- 2 medium carrots
- 1 small fennel bulb, stalks discarded
- 1 1/4 cups olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 2 (3-by 1-inch) strips lemon zest, very thinly sliced
- Shave carrots with a vegetable peeler into very thin, wide ribbons. Quarter fennel bulb lengthwise, then very thinly slice lengthwise.
- Heat oil with cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over low heat until warm.
- Add carrots, fennel, and zest and cook gently, without simmering, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain oil into a bowl (see cooks' note, below) and transfer vegetables to another bowl to cool to room temperature.