Easy and delicious and totally worth the calories! Just a few simple ingredients transforms a strange vegetable like fennel into a culinary masterpiece.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cut the tops and very bottom off of bulbs. Depending on the size of your bulb, quarter each bulb or cut into smaller pieces. Discard the very center core.
In a small pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until a roux forms. Cook for about 2 minutes or until the roux begins to brown.
Add garlic, cream, salt and lemon zest. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes on low heat.
Place cut up fennel into a 2qt baking dish.
Pour cream mixture over fennel. Top with Parmesan cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes or until the fennel is tender.
Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese becomes golden and bubbly. Serve with warm bread or cracker or alone as a side dish.