Eating Ferns?!

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...  :)

Comments

[TRADERJANKI]

i love fiddlehead ferns... so fun to chew

[Liz]

Hi Traderjanki,
I agree. Unless you get a grain of sand!