Comments on: On the Trail of the Elusive Fiddlehead Fern

By: Lobsang

Lobsang — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:12:36 +0000

When i was in norther India, in a small village called Patlikuhl. Me and my friend go to pick up in himalaya hills, during peddlehead season, we find so many grown all over. It is all free. We bring it home and my mom cook, it is so delicious but since i moved to usa. I never get a chance to eat those.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:22:31 +0000

I’m so glad I read this! There have been fiddleheads in the bin next to the green beans at my local store for a couple of weeks and I’ve wondered what they were. I live in Providence, RI, so it makes sense that we would have them. I’ll have to go pick some up before they’re gone.

(Just listened to your interview on Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy and thought I would check out your blog. Great information!)

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:31:14 +0000

If you like fiddleheads, please at least once try them with a bit of white vinegar (after you sautée and salt them).

I’ve never gone back after trying them that way. It’s also a great way to eat asparagus.

By: Ellie

Ellie — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:15:59 +0000

I just got a huge batch from a friend, who picked them at his place — actually, now that I think about it, I’m not sure if it’s his place in Connecticut, where I am, or his place in Maine, where he was on vacation. In any case, he vacuum-packed them, and we’re going to eat them up tonight, prepared as you suggest.

Thanks!
Ellie

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:44:27 +0000

I think in Ohio, we’re a little bit far to get really fresh ferns, but since they taste similar to asparagus, I’ll just stick with the asparagus still popping up in the corner of our garden.

By: Anna

Anna — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:55:23 +0000

Growing up in upstate NY, my mom and a neighboring mom (both very interested in all facets of ferns) would take us kids out into the woods while they gathered fiddleheads. I loved the wood outings but didn’t appreciate the fiddleheads at the time (I doubt they wanted to share their bounty with us anyway). Who knew I’d later appreciate the hunter-gatherer philosophy so much!

By: Fiddlehead Ferns With Bacon, Browned Garlic and Onion, and White Wine Reduction | Mark's Daily Apple

Sat, 09 May 2009 15:47:46 +0000

[...] I started by preparing the ferns as mentioned in yesterday’s post: a 3-4 minute roiling boil blanch followed by a cold water bath. At the same time, I cut up the [...]

By: Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet

Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet — Fri, 08 May 2009 22:00:17 +0000

I tried these myself the other week. So delicious! I also just simply sauteed them in a pan until they were slightly browned and tender with just a hint of a bite left. Flavored with garlic and fresh herbs, they were wonderful! Yum!

Here’s the link to how I did it. http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2009/04/wild-garlicky-fiddlehead-ferns-my-answer-to-gmos.html

By: Gayle

Gayle — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:44:17 +0000

I’m in Vermont and my in-laws have a patch of ostrich ferns in their yard that we pick from every year. I see them in stores for about $3.99/lb.

I like them sauteed in butter or olive oil with just a little salt, and maybe some chopped walnuts thrown in at the end as well.

By: Stu

Stu — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:24:53 +0000

Mark, I’m an Atlantic Canadian as well and I remember fiddleheads as a child. Another local delicacy was Samphire Greens. They are a marsh grass that is common in the area, and also in the UK. I guess they are best steamed but we used to just pick them and eat them raw.

http://www.farmersmarketreport.com/2005/08/samphire-greens.asp