Fennel (Saunf)

An aromatic herb with an aniseed flavour, it bears a resemblance to cumin seed but is plumper and a pale green in colour. Fennel is one of the spices used to make up a ‘five spice mix’ (panch phoran) not to be mistaken for Chinese five spice, these spices are used for example in a fish or vegetable curry dish and ‘achar gosht’, (pickle with meat) the curry sauce has a flavour of pickle. Fennel seeds are often eaten after a meal as a digestive and a mouth freshener.