Fennel & Chillies

[alicia]

Firstly, I have never seen Fennel sold in any of the local Supermarkets (we live near Coin). Yet Fennel is I believe, grown in Spain. Would anyone know where it is possible to buy it locally. Same goes for the fresh chillies or even dried chilli powder!!!! Would like to buy some but not seen it around.

Any suggestions would be great.

It´s hard to be optimistic with misty optics.............

[El Cid]

They are both available but not usually in the supermarkets. The proper markets usually have fennel but chillies are more of a problem. When the Spanish use chillies they usually used dried ones.

The veg stall in our local market sell the small Thai ones and so do Alcampo.

You should be able to get Chilli powder easily enough in the spices section of most large supermarkets.

You can grow chillies easily and freeze them.

Sid

[frank]

A fish soup I often make, which involves a pinch of fennel, a favourite of ours.
http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/ch ... 2_p_1.html

[Nimrod]

You often see fennel growing wild ,by the roadside,by the beach.

[El Cid]

Alicia, are you looking for "real" fennel - ie the bulb? I was referring to that in my reply.

Frank's recipe uses fennel seeds which are very different. The stuff growing wild is great for the fronds as a fresh herb but the wild stuff doesn't have as big a base as the cultivated variety which is usually sliced.

Sid

[alicia]

Hi Sid

Yes, would prefer the "proper" fennel with the bulb but even the dried stuff would be a step forward. The surprising thing is a lot of "mediterrannean" dishes require fennel yet getting hold of it seems bit of a magical mystery tour, so to speak.

Thanks for all the replies though as the information is very useful.

[hattie]

If you buy some dried chillies - get mine along with the powder from Fuengirola market, upstairs.
you can grow chillies from these seeds although they are dried.