Fiddleheads
It's spring! Fiddleheads are here. I usually saute in bit of garlic, butter & s&p. Sometimes with lemon. The other day I did them up like that but added some Swiss Chard & a good splash of Balsamic. The balsamic overtook the fiddleheads delicate flavor.
What do you do to them?
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15 Comments:
I've only prepared fiddleheads once when I snagged a bunch from Dean & DeLuca. One of my co-workers was from New Hampshire and he asked me, "Did you make them with the butter and the vinegar?" I said, "No but I will!" I had bought them the day before and didn't have the foggiest idea what to do with them.
So I went home and here's what I did. I sauteed them in some butter just long enough to coat them. I did add vinegar - but when my friend said "vinegar," I sort of "heard" red wine vinegar and not balsamic. I agree, had I added balsamic, I think it would have overwhelmed the fiddleheads. I added a splash of red wine vinegar, s&p, I added a small amount of water, covered the pan and steamed them the rest of the way - probably about 5 minutes. They were very good.
Next time, try a milder vinegar.
therealchiffonade at 3:10PM on 05/08/09
Cream sauce with ham.
Butter and onions. Lots of onions. Sweet ones.
Quick fried in tempura batter.
Steamed in pasta with lemon and crushed red pepper and white wine.
Never tried with vinegar. I will now.
I love them, so I am sure it will be good. Don't have any red wine vinegar at the moment...hope white wine vinegar will work too.
sadiepix at 3:57PM on 05/08/09
I just had them sauted in butter, chicken stock a little white wine garlic, leeks and mushrooms.
pjracz10 at 4:08PM on 05/08/09
(just Googled-) OMG I didn't know people eat it here!
Tempura, of course :-)
I'd use (matcha+)sea salt instead of a regular tempura dipping sauce because the flavor is so delicate.
hmw0029 at 4:28PM on 05/08/09
Blanched in boiling water, then topped with butter and a dash of Apple Cider Vinegar. Serve em alongside a ham steak with some mashed potatoes. MMM
sammie at 4:44PM on 05/08/09
Diced shallot, butter, s&p. tiniest kick of cayenne. Favorite spring veg.
ashleybotse at 6:31PM on 05/08/09
@hmw0029- Matcha is like tempura? Can you make fish and chips with it? Where do you buy Matcha?
pjracz10 at 6:36PM on 05/08/09
@pjracz10: Matcha is a type of (high quality) green tea sold in powder form. It's a little bitter. Imagine Starbuck's green tea frappucino, minus the milk and sugar. :) You should be able to get it at any major Asian grocery store. The "loose" variety is typically stored in a tiny tin. Since it's grown in popularity, you can find it in bag form, like at Republic of Tea.
I use fiddleheads in ramen, yakisoba, tempura, as well as bibimbap.
Cassaendra at 8:51PM on 05/08/09
What do fiddleheads taste like? I have seen them in mags like Gourmet, etc., but NEVER in any stores around here. Where would I be able to buy them?
gourmetgal at 9:09PM on 05/08/09
Thanks Cassaendra for answering :-)
for Tempura seasoning, we mix fine salt with other powders like matcha, sansho (a Japanese spice that you don't see here), curry powder (believe it or not), etc.
For tempura ingredients with subtle/delicate flavor, I opt for just good quality sea salt of matcha+salt.
hmw0029 at 9:13PM on 05/08/09
I've heard that if fiddleheads aren't thoroughly cooked for at least ten minutes, they can be dangerous to eat. Anyone else heard this? Is it true?
annatr at 9:37PM on 05/08/09
@gourmetgal - fiddleheads taste vaguely like asparagus. I've gotten them from Wegmans when in-season, but never got hot&bothered about them.
@annatr - I've heard the same thing, but 'cooked', not for a specific time. I've sauteed them for less time, and they've been fine.
finewinendine at 9:50PM on 05/08/09
i had some for dinner. i roasted them on a cookie sheet with some chopped garlic. they were ok.
cybercita at 10:31PM on 05/08/09
Just saw on "Bazaar Foods" that they need to be eaten while still furled. Once they unfurl, they become toxic ~ major tummy problems.
duncan1205 at 5:10PM on 05/09/09
@duncan1205 -really? Wow.
I've eaten fiddleheads lots growing up and never heard of this...worth it though. I love'em!
hungrychristel at 12:38PM on 05/11/09