Fiddlehead

VegetableLeafy-greenGrassyNuttyGreenEarthyCrispSlightly Bitter

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories: 34
Protein (g): 4.6
Fat (g): 0.4
Carbs (g): 5.7
Fiber (g): 3
Sodium (mg): 1

Higher in protein than many leafy greens and supplies notable vitamins and minerals.

Storage

Room temp: up to 1 days
Refrigerated: up to 3 days
Frozen: up to 180 days

Fiddlehead is the tightly coiled young frond of the ostrich fern, bright green with a curled fiddle-like tip. It has a grassy, slightly nutty flavor and a crisp snap that turns tender after cooking; common methods include blanching then sauteing, stir-frying, or frying in tempura, and it is also quick-pickled; sold fresh in spring with some frozen packs available.

Gathered traditionally across the Northeast United States and Eastern Canada, where it marks the short spring foraging season. Related fern shoots appear in Nordic and East Asian cuisines, though species differ, and most are briefly blanched before further cooking.