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| fiddlehead fern -- yum! |
I am going to search the forest and see if I can find some fiddlehead ferns to eat for the reasons listed below. According to epicurious.com, they taste like a cross between asparagus, green beans and okra. I will report back as to whether they are used as a first course or as a side dish.
"fiddlehead fern"
A young, edible, tightly coiled fern frond that resembles the spiral end of a violin (fiddle). It is also referred to as ostrich fern and pohole. The shoots are in their coiled form for only about 2 weeks before they unfurl into graceful greenery. Fiddlehead ferns are a rich, deep green color and are about 2 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter. They have a flavor akin to an asparagus-green bean-okra cross and a texture that's appealingly chewy. Fiddleheads can be found throughout the eastern half of the United States, ranging from as far south as Virginia north to Canada. They're available in specialty produce markets from April through July, depending on the region. Choose small, firm, brightly colored ferns with no sign of softness or yellowing. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, for no more than 2 days. Fiddleheads should be washed and the ends trimmed before being briefly cooked by steaming, simmering or sautéing. They may be served cooked as a first course or side dish or used raw in salads. Fiddlehead ferns are a good source of vitamins A and C.
These were a common spring dish in Fredicton. If you drove past the pawn shop, there would be a huge barrel full of them (floating in water)... you would get a bag full for a couple of dollars. :-) steam them, and add a bit of butter and a squeeze of lemon. yummy...
ReplyDeleteI was in Toronto for 5 days and we stopped by the downtown St. Lawrence Market on Saturday. This alone made me want to move to this large city. Having never seen fiddleheads for sale to eat, this was a complexity for me. People eat those? I asked my market companions. Yep! they answered. I shall have to try a few in the coming days. Then again, I don't know where the fresh market is in Winnipeg.
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