Fiddlehead Ferns???

[Harborwitch]

I found out today that our new food vendor had wonderful goodies - ramps, baby Chioga beets, and fiddlehead ferns. I've had the beets (and LOVE them) but I'm wondering - what are fiddlehead ferns like - do they taste like 'anything' else? Should I try them?

[Lorraine]

I'd buy them in a heartbeat! We used to pick them in Quebec. they remind me a bit of asparagus. We used to wash them well in cold water to get rid of any grit, them blanch and shock them. I like them sauteed in butter and a bit of lemon juice. Some restaurants used to serve them with hollandaise. They are great in a stirfrys, or in a creamy pasta sauce. A friend of mine used to pickle them. The growing season can be very short, (depending on the weather), so we would buy/pick whatever we could and freeze them.

[cjs]

I had them once long time ago, but have never fixed them myself. They were part of a salad and very tasty. Quick cooking as Lorraine mentioned.

Just looked them up in FLC - their flavor is a cross between asparagus-green bean-okra.

[Harborwitch]

I think I'll have her get me a pound. I'll have to watch the flyers that the FSA guy brings in - beautiful goodies, she won't buy them, but I can.

Thanks - Lorraine and Jean, as usual the best info!

[Old Bay]

I think the season is about three weeks, so hurry.

[farnfam]

We have those growing in the woods. What are they supposed to look like when they're ready for picking? I would love to try some

[Lorraine]

It's the Ostrich Ferns you want. There are two different kinds that grew in Quebec, one not edible. That would be the one that I picked two bags of. The head should be tightly curled, and break off about one to one and a half inches of the stem. If you google it, you should get some good results as to what to look for.

[Harborwitch]

These will be from our food service vendor. Would a pound serve 2?

[Lorraine]

A lb will serve two of me.