Fennel and Orange Winter Salad
I was only in Bologna's Mercato del Mezzo to take photos for my Facebook Cook Italy page when it hit me, the fragrance from the Tarocco oranges I was shooting.
Instant decision: I just had to make an Insalata di Tarocco e Finocchio, my absolute favourite Italian winter salad, the fennel and orange salad from Sicily. When the weather conditions are right to produce a thermal shock - very cold nights after relatively warm clear sky days - the Tarocco oranges turn from "blond" to red, and these were just turning, judging by the two sliced orange halves in the display.
Making this winter salad is a simple matter. Remove the first leaf of the fennel bulb and slice as much of it as you like in the way that you prefer. Peel the oranges to remove skin, pith and the membranes enclosing the fillets, here's a nice Link to The Kitchn that shows you exactly how . Finely chop some flat leaf parsley, assemble and drizzle with olive oil.
