Fennel

Know what is that? Don't know leh. Don't think M'sia has it. Or if got also is very rare because Ping has never seen it until now.
It was the first Friday without Steph. Jen, Kristi and Ping went to Horrocks (that's because Ping wanted to go so Ping actually made a decision for our Friday night activity!!) so that Ping can get cheese curds. Since we were then, we also wanted to get some stuff for dinner - easiest is salad! Bought some romaine lettuce and then Jen suggested getting this vege thing that looks like grass with a huge round root - FENNEL. That was the first time Ping saw it. If Ping had seen it without Jen suggesting to get it, Ping wouldn't have bought or even tried it. It looks like grass. Like some kind of 'chang' that Ping wouldn't like. It is also know as 小茴香 (xiao3 hui2 xiang1) or pokok adas.

How to eat it leh? First have to separate the 'grass' part. This part taste a bit like 'anice' and seems to be the taste of ulam.

The bottom part looks like an onion but it is very hard and had to be sliced. It is very garing and almost tasteless. Jen says that it can also be roasted.

Both parts can be eaten. Ping don't know what else is the fennel used for but it taste really good with as part of salad, especially the green part. Now that Ping tried it, Ping likes it a lot. Makes Ping think of nasi ulam but cannot find any 'long kalui' to make it. Maybe can make it with the fennel....hmmmm....