Kitchen Basics Series – Fiddleheads

image from here and here

have you ever seen those little dark green vegetables that look very much like the top of a violin? well those tasty things are fiddleheads, which appear in the spring and are the funniest looking vegetable you can find (i think). they are actually little curled ends of a fern plant that when cooked are very delicious! they have a short growing season so you don't see them in stores or at farmer's markets for very long, if you blink you might miss it, but they are by far one of the easiest vegetables to cook and are a fantastic healthy addition to any meal. 

Basic Sautéed Fiddleheads

1. 1/2 tbsp. butter
2. pinch of kosher salt
3. two handfuls of fiddleheads
4. 2 chopped garlic cloves
5. salt and Pepper to taste
6. juice of half a lemon

The How: sauté your garlic in the melted butter then quickly add your fiddleheads. add your lemon and kosher salt. sauté them for about 8-10 minutes on a medium to low heat. now add your salt and pepper to taste. should you like, you can add a sprinkle of dried hot peppers or even some freshly ground parmesan before serving. 

A Cooking Helpful Hint!  it is recommended to not add salt to a pot of boiling water or a pan before placing your vegetable or food inside? if salt is added beforehand it can often settle to the bottom and create white little spots on your stainless steel pots and pans.