Fiddleheads

Fiddleheads are the immature curled shoots of a fern found early in the spring. There are many different types of ferns, but only the Ostrich Fern is considered edible. Other varieties of ferns can be unsafe to eat because of their carcinogenic properties. Even the edible ostrich ferns should be cooked well before eating. For best results, blanch them before cooking. This insures they are well-cooked and helps keep a nice texture to the fiddleheads.

It is easy to identify Ostrich Fern because of their deep u-shaped groove down the smooth stem and asparagus green colour. When harvesting fiddleheads, you are removing the new growth and leaves of the plant, so it is important not to remove all the curling fiddleheads from the crown of the plant. Fiddleheads are a staple in the other Maritime provinces, but a bit less well known and popular in Newfoundland.

Fiddleheads taste like a mixture of green beans and asparagus. After blanching, they can be steamed, sautéed or added to other dishes.