There are very few ingredients that can add to a dish what fresh fennel can add. It's got a hint of sweetness, a nice crunch and a refreshing flavor. Known for being eaten raw as a palate cleanser at the end of a big Italian meal, it can be prepared or eaten just about any way you can imagine. Take these recipes, for example: roasted fennel in pasta, fennel salad and even a fennel slaw. Try out a few of these and before you know it you'll be adding fennel into all kinds of things this fall.

Baked Penne with Fennel: When you think of creamy baked pasta, you don't necessarily think of light flavors. But fennel can add the perfect soft flavor to just about anything — including this creamy baked penne. With pancetta, heavy cream and three different cheeses, the dish definitely benefits from the fennel's subtle flavor.

Orecchiette with Roasted Fennel: This one is a great dish if you're cooking fennel for the first time, because even if you manage to mess up the fennel, you've got a big bowl of delicious pasta to turn to for comfort. But cooking the fennel couldn't be easier, so everything should come together flawlessly. Just pop it in the oven with salt, pepper and olive oil and you've done almost all the work. Plus, its flavor is a great complement to the sausage, which is often made with fennel seeds.

Fennel Salad: Even the simplest of recipes can't compete with this one: fennel, red onion, oil and seasoning. That's it. It's a great salad to serve before a heavy meal and adds a bit of freshness alongside almost anything else.

Roasted Fennel with Tomatoes: This recipe is great as a hot side too. Roast the bulbs in the oven with some garlic, olive oil and lemon, and then add in some cherry tomatoes right at the end. The fennel helps keep everything light, while the tomatoes and garlic add some deeper flavors and a hint of sweetness.

Creamy Broccoli Fennel Slaw: Is there anything better than a really crunchy, creamy slaw alongside a burger? Well, maybe garlic fries, but that's a different story. With toasted almonds, Greek yogurt and a bit of cayenne, this recipe has a nice mix of flavors that is perfect for anything from a barbecue to a fall weeknight dinner.