Food of the Month: Fiddle (dee dee) Heads
Care of Amy Symington Contrary to popular belief, fiddleheads are not alien larva spawn from a furry green monster. They are native to Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec and are the leaves of a delicious young fern that resemble the curled end of a fiddle. If allowed to mature they would unfurl into long beautiful fronds. They have a short, but sweet season here in Canada, usually starting in April or early May and ending approximately three weeks later. They are deemed to be uniquely and traditionally Canadian and have been enjoyed as a delicacy for generations. There are many types of ferns that fiddleheads can be harvested from, however some have been found to be more nutritious than others. Recently, ostrich fern fiddleheads were found to contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as lowering LDL cholesterol levels. They’ve also been found to contain twice the amount of antioxidants than the widely acclaimed, antioxidant rich blueberry. The ostrich variety in particular is the leafy goodness you will want to get your hands on. Generally speaking though, fiddleheads harvested from most ferns are found to be a… Read More
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