Fennel is a flowering vegetable and belongs to the same family as carrots and celery. It’s a large plant, with stalks that can grow up to 8 feet tall. Its base is pale and firm, like celery, and its stalks are topped with feathery fronds. You can eat the whole plant — the bulb, stalks, leaves, and seeds — and use it in a variety of dishes.
Fennel has a long history in the Mediterranean region, where it has been used in cooking and medicines. It's common in Italian and Greek cuisines. You can also find it often in Indian, Middle Eastern, and other cuisines around the world.