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Fennel and Olive Salad with Creamy Tarragon Vinaigrette

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on September 13, 2011

Time

15 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Fennel and Olive Salad with Creamy Tarragon Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 tablespoon crème fraîche, or sour cream2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small lemon, zested to yield 1 ½ teaspoon zest and juiced to yield 1 tablespoon juice1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves 2 small bulbs fennel (about 4 ounces each), stalks and fronds removed; 2 teaspoons fronds, minced and reserved; bulbs trimmed, halved and sliced thin crosswiseSalt and ground black pepper 2 cups arugula, frisée leaves, or mixed small salad greens, rinsed and driedniçoise olives, for garnish

Before You Begin

For a more filling salad, serve with thin garlic croutons spread with tapenade and topped with finely diced hard-boiled egg.

Instructions

  1. Whisk crème fraîche, oil, and juice together in medium-size bowl. Add lemon zest, parsley, tarragon, reserved minced fennel fronds, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with sliced fennel bulb. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 hours.)
  2. Arrange salad greens on plate. Mound fennel salad on top of greens, garnish with olives, and serve.
Fennel and Olive Salad with Creamy Tarragon Vinaigrette

Fennel and Olive Salad with Creamy Tarragon Vinaigrette

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

15 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon crème fraîche, or sour cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small lemon, zested to yield 1 ½ teaspoon zest and juiced to yield 1 tablespoon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
2 small bulbs fennel (about 4 ounces each), stalks and fronds removed; 2 teaspoons fronds, minced and reserved; bulbs trimmed, halved and sliced thin crosswise
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups arugula, frisée leaves, or mixed small salad greens, rinsed and dried
niçoise olives, for garnish

Ingredients

1 tablespoon crème fraîche, or sour cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small lemon, zested to yield 1 ½ teaspoon zest and juiced to yield 1 tablespoon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
2 small bulbs fennel (about 4 ounces each), stalks and fronds removed; 2 teaspoons fronds, minced and reserved; bulbs trimmed, halved and sliced thin crosswise
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups arugula, frisée leaves, or mixed small salad greens, rinsed and dried
niçoise olives, for garnish

Ingredients

1 tablespoon crème fraîche, or sour cream
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small lemon, zested to yield 1 ½ teaspoon zest and juiced to yield 1 tablespoon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves
2 small bulbs fennel (about 4 ounces each), stalks and fronds removed; 2 teaspoons fronds, minced and reserved; bulbs trimmed, halved and sliced thin crosswise
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups arugula, frisée leaves, or mixed small salad greens, rinsed and dried
niçoise olives, for garnish

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted to develop flavorful salad recipes using spring’s tender young vegetables. Adding some crème fraiche or sour cream to this fennel salad gave it some richness without weighing it down.

Before You Begin

For a more filling salad, serve with thin garlic croutons spread with tapenade and topped with finely diced hard-boiled egg.

Instructions

  1. Whisk crème fraîche, oil, and juice together in medium-size bowl. Add lemon zest, parsley, tarragon, reserved minced fennel fronds, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with sliced fennel bulb. (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 hours.)
  2. Arrange salad greens on plate. Mound fennel salad on top of greens, garnish with olives, and serve.

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