collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Fiddle head ferns?  (Read 1627 times)

Online The scout

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 1702
  • Location: belfair
Fiddle head ferns?
« on: April 22, 2020, 08:24:06 AM »
So every for about the last ten years around now I see a few vehicles parked on the side of the road, they are for sure not brush pickers. I’m pretty sure they are picking the fern shoots. Not that it matters much but they are Asians, which for one is rare to see in my neck of the woods, and also if they are eating them I don’t necessarily trust that I would like them. So anybody pick these and are they good? If so How do you prepare them. I do tons of mushroom hunting with my kids, and seems like another good way to get outdoors if they are decent.

Offline Fl0und3rz

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 51553
  • Location: E. WA
Re: Fiddle head ferns?
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2020, 10:03:42 AM »
The only way I have had them is pickled over in Vermont, and per Pman, the eastern coastal varieties are a bit more tender, IIRC.   

Online Jake Dogfish

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 3314
  • Location: Des Moines
Re: Fiddle head ferns?
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2020, 11:06:07 AM »
On the westside we have lady ferns and bracken ferns.  Bracken ferns are tasty but require par boiling and draining.  Even then, may not be healthy to eat that’s debatable.
Lady ferns are ok but not as tasty imo.
Environmentalist Fundamentalist

Offline throwingsticks

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2017
  • Posts: 674
  • Location: 407
Re: Fiddle head ferns?
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2020, 04:58:29 PM »
I have always wanted to try them but never have. I didn't realize fiddle heads were so popular, even Martha Stewart has a recipe
https://www.marthastewart.com/338808/sauteed-fiddlehead-ferns

Offline CaNINE

  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2015
  • Posts: 1362
  • Location: Gig Harbor
Re: Fiddle head ferns?
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2020, 06:27:15 AM »
Not stating this as gospel but I’ve read that only ostrich ferns are safe to eat. All other ferns are not safe for consumption. Ostrich fiddleheads should be tightly curled with short tails. Best picked in the morning when they are still crisp.  Boil them in salt water for several minutes, plunge into cold water then drain. Mix them with some soy sauce, peanut butter and a little sugar.  Enjoy? 

I’m not sure if we have any ostrich variety in Wa. I believe they can only be found in BC.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2020, 06:32:57 AM by CaNINE »
The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

Proverbs 12:27

Offline Dadofive

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2019
  • Posts: 73
  • Location: 98290
Re: Fiddle head ferns?
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2020, 07:49:12 AM »
We would eat them when I lived in Alaska. Would saute them in butter or steam them. Their taste is similar to asparagus. I'm not crazy about them but they were  fun forage eating.

Offline northwesthunter84

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2014
  • Posts: 980
  • Location: Seabeck, Wa
Re: Fiddle head ferns?
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2020, 07:54:07 AM »
Got a batch a few years ago from Albertsons.  They tasted great kind of like brocolini but half way through dinner my wife put her silverware down.  She asked me if I felt ok and I really didn't at that point.  Needless to say we both spent the next 5 hours executing the double dragon.  I have never ever been that sick in my life.  Anyways even seeing them now makes me shudder.  Be careful with them.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Let’s see your best Washington buck by Deadeyety
[Today at 05:12:44 PM]


Springer 2024 Columbia River by HntnFsh
[Today at 05:12:42 PM]


Springer Fishing Opportunity 3/29 & 3/30 by Blacklab
[Today at 12:48:56 PM]


Long Beach Clamming Tides by dilleytech
[Today at 12:39:19 PM]


Bearpaw Season - Spring 2024 by bearpaw
[Today at 11:45:41 AM]


Walked a cougar down by Rainier10
[Today at 11:17:49 AM]


SB 5444 signed by Inslee on 03/26 Takes Effect on 06/06/24 by hughjorgan
[Today at 09:03:26 AM]


Average by lhrbull
[Today at 07:31:56 AM]


CVA optima V2 LR tapped hole for front sight by Remdawg
[Today at 07:09:22 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal