Key facts
| Hindi name | Saunf |
|---|---|
| Also called | Badi saunf, variyali |
| Flavour | Sweet, liquorice-like and cooling. |
| Heat | No heat |
| Sold as | Whole seeds, ground |
| Stays fresh | Whole: 1 year, ground: 3 months · check your jars |
| Best substitute | Anise seed is the closest swap; use a little less. |
| Used in | 6 of our blends and 6 of our dishes |
How to use it
Chewed after meals as a mouth freshener, ground into Kashmiri and Bengali dishes, and fried whole in pickles and panch phoron.
- Lightly roast and grind for Kashmiri dishes like rogan josh.
- Candied or roasted fennel (mukhwas) is the classic after-meal digestive.
Substitute
Anise seed is the closest swap; use a little less.
Storage
Whole seeds keep a year; ground fennel goes flat in a few months.
Many Indian restaurants keep a bowl of fennel seeds by the door for after the meal.
Pairs well with
Dishes that use fennel seed
Blends with fennel seed
Panch phoron
Bengal and Odisha
A whole-seed mix of five spices in equal parts, used without grinding.
Chettinad masala
Tamil Nadu
A peppery, aromatic blend from the Chettinad region, with stone flower and kapok buds.
Kashmiri masala (ver style)
Kashmir
Kashmiri Pandit cooking relies on fennel, dry ginger and Kashmiri chilli rather than onion and garlic.
Frequently asked questions
What is fennel seed called in Hindi?
Saunf. Also known as Badi saunf, variyali.
What can I use instead of fennel seed?
Anise seed is the closest swap; use a little less.
How long does fennel seed keep?
Whole seeds keep a year; ground fennel goes flat in a few months.
Tips from travellers
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Questions from readers
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