It's spring, and to many Maritimers, it's fiddlehead season. Fiddleheads are very young ferns that aren't fully developed, and they are considered a delicious treat in the Fundy region. They only last for a few weeks as they develop into fiddleheads, so they can be rather pricey in supermarkets.
Favorably, they are steamed or boiled. They should be boiled twice and all brown skin should be removed in order to avoid any toxins and bitterness. If one is steaming them, they should be steamed about 20 minutes. Boiling would take about ten. The younger the fiddleheads, the better, also. They get more bitter the older they are, but more tender and fresh the younger they are.
Fiddleheads make a delicious side dish to go with just about anything. I like my fiddleheads with some butter and salt. They're also very good with some vinegar on them.
I'm back in the Fundy region so I will be updating every now and again when I find things to talk about. I'll be here all summer so check back, especially if you plan on visiting Fundy Park this summer. Along with this fiddlehead post, I've included a photograph that I took earlier today on Fundy Park's Coastal Trail. Enjoy!
K.
