Can you believe that these were my very first fiddleheads - ever? How they could have eluded me for so long, I just don't know. Maybe these cute little armadillo like greens are smarter than once thought, cute and smart - hmm.
I was elated when I spotted them at the market this weekend, but I held back and only bought one wee package. I figured this way if it turned out I didn't like them, not much was wasted. The bigger problem would be if I did like them - because there would clearly be no room for sharing. That's okay, sharing isn't a strong point of mine anyway. :)
Taking into consideration that this was my "first time out of the gates" attempt I wasn't looking to be adventurous, but rather wanted a simple preparation that would allow me a true taste of these delicate coils. So, I followed the recommendation of a fellow fiddlehead buyer at the market and sauteed the steamed shoots in butter and seasoned them only with salt and pepper.
It was so exciting to try something new, I had so many expectations and I wasn't sure what the baby fern, resting on my fork, was going to introduce. After my first bite I was probably the most surprised by its firm texture, which reminded me slightly of a brussel sprout. And then the flavor, where I noticed a resemblance to asparagus followed by a hint of citrus.
Tonight was my second attempt and I wanted to play more with the citrus-y flavor. This time I boiled the shoots in lightly salted water for 20 minutes and then sauteed them in a mixture of butter and equal parts lemon infused olive oil. After sauteing for about 5 minutes I added a tsp of freshly grated lemon peel, a pinch of sea salt and some fresh cracked black pepper. Once plated I added a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and presto!
What did I think of them this time around! To be continued...
No just kidding!
They were ferntastic (that was bad I know). I thought the flavor was enhanced by the lemon, bringing out a buttery, almost nutty flavor that I didn't notice before. Fiddleheads are certainly a unique morsel, not only in appreance, but also in the depth of flavor. I will be on the look out for them again this weekend, but there's no guarantee I'll be sharing... :)
i love fiddlehead ferns... so fun to chew
Posted by: TRADERJANKI | August 21, 2007 at 07:36 PM
Hi Traderjanki,
I agree. Unless you get a grain of sand!
Posted by: Liz | August 21, 2007 at 10:51 PM