Fiddle heads

[pikedreams]

Do any of you have any experience cooking fiddle heads this time of year? I've got a ton of them in the woods behind my house and I'd really like to utilize a few of them as part of a nice meal. I'm told you should never take more than 3 fiddle heads off the plant at ounce to ensure a future crop, and I'm fine with that.

I was thinking of steaming them for 15 to 20 minutes and then drizzling over a garlic lemon butter sauce. Anyone have any other ideas?

[flipper]

I have only had them once. I don't think it would take that long to steam them. I just steamed them and buttered them and a little salt. I think they are a bit bitter but I had to try em.

[pushbutton]

First off make sure they are ostrich ferns; cinnamon are also edible but usually don't find huge wild stands of them. Clean them REALLY well, making sure any of the brown carp and hairs are removed. at this point you can either boil, saute, steam, deep fry or any combination of them. Can't remember what the toxin is, but eating a moderate amount is best and discard any of the boiled water, saute sauce ect. Personally i usually parboil first and the flash fry in a pan or tempura and deep fry. The taste is ok and more of a novelty.

[reinhard1]

this is an interesting topic. my ex wife [she was Korean] always wanted to me to take her up 65 or up north this time of year for the picking for fern sprouts [i guess that's what i call them]. i dont know what species it is but i regognize it very well. it is not the broad leafed ferns but the thin leaf variety. when the first com our before any leaves appear the upper part has a slight curl and i pick the top 3 to 4 inches. [seems like the deer love them also]. my ex brought her friends along [all korean] and we went to town on them. comming back with a large black plastic bag full each.

she would par boil them first and then fry them in a stirfry thing with plenty of hot spices and beef or chicken or pork. she said it was very good for males certain energy needs. all i know it was very good. dont don that anymore for she passed away some time ago. it was called Koosari [spell] good luck.