You may not have heard of them but they are a nutritious vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes. Fiddlehead ferns are tightly coiled ferns that grow across the northern territories of the US and Canada. Found as far south as the Southern Appalachians and Northern California in the shady areas near rivers and in hardwood forests.
These greens are an excellent source of vitamins A and C that can add diversity to many dishes. The flavor is described as a mild taste similar to asparagus or artichoke and can be prepared numerous ways. They are excellent marinated, pickled, sauteed, incorporated into soups, pasta, stir fry’s or cooked, then chilled to add to salads. Also wonderful served with a Hollandaise sauce.
Available in the spring from April through mid-June, if you don’t find them in your grocery, ask the produce manager to purchase this healthy seasonal item.
