It's FIDDLEHEAD season, YUM!

[Freedom]

I've had them 3 times already this year. In preparing this for all of you, I never realized this is a New England thing!

Here are the fiddleheads:




Definition: Fiddleheads are a New England spring delicacy. They appear on menus and in markets in the region from about May through early July. What exactly are these deep green, coiled vegetables, though? Fiddleheads are actually young fern fronds that have not yet opened up. They must be picked during a two-week window before the fern unfurls. Fiddleheads are named for their appearance, which resembles the scroll at the head or top of a fiddle. The ostrish fern is the species that produces these edible shoots, which have a unique texture but taste a bit like asparagus or okra. Fiddleheads can be consumed raw or cooked.
-- http://gonewengland.about.com/cs/rec...iddleheads.htm

They taste a bit like spinach, but with a more nutty flavor.

Left in the ground, this is how they develop, into the ostrich fern:
http://www.google.com/images?q=ostri...ed=0CEAQsAQwAw

[Bonny]

The fiddleheads look & sound yummy. Do you ever try putting them on the charcoal grill? I soak the asparagus in olive oil & put them on the grill & is that ever good.

[Freedom]

I will have to try that, thanks! I saw quite a few "recipes" when I was searching for info and photos of the adult fern for this thread, so now I have to vary how I prepare them.

[Lilith Cherry]

It's a Canadian "thing" too Freedom. I love eating them in the late spring; enjoy some for me will you as they will be over by the time I get home!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Sounds very interesting- I've never heard of them before! I'd love to try it sometime, but I guess I'll have to visit New England at the right time of year first!

[ramanth]

I first learned about fiddleheads back in March while visiting a friend in Seattle. She wanted to add them to her menu for her culinary class. I wasn't able to try any but they sound delicious!

[pomtzu]

I was born and raised in New England and I never heard of them! Interesting - tho I never have been a big veggie eater - especially greens.

[Sonia59]

I have never heard before that this could be eaten, although French are known to eat many weird things

[lizbud]

I'll take your word for how they taste, but I'll pass on trying them myself.

They look too much like snakes. Try saying "fern fronds" out loud three
times.

[Asiel]

I've picked them ever since I was a kid, my mom loved them and so did I. I had a nice batch last year and hoping to be lucky enough to get some this year but the weather is so funny out here we might jump right into the ferns and miss the fiddleheads. I'm a green veggie nut, any veggie acually, and asparagus and fiddle heads are my favourites. Maybe the fact that it's a once a year treat makes me crave them.