theworldonaplatter.com | Share

A rite of spring

If you live in a big city and have country cousins, chances are you’ve heard one of them tell of picking fiddleheads and wild garlic. For some it’s a rite of spring, some can’t get enough, while some don’t understand the hype.

Let me first explain the uniqueness of these plants. The fiddlehead or fiddlehead green is actually the furled frond of a young fern that is picked and eaten as a vegetable. They are picked in early spring before the fern develops.

What is wild garlic?

Wild garlic can be found across a wide range of Europe and Eastern North America. It is a perennial bulbous plant like chives and grows close to wetlands and in wooded areas. The North American variety goes by names like Canada onion, Canadian garlic, wild garlic, meadow garlic and wild onion and is known formally as Allium Canadense.

The European wild garlic allium ursinum or bear’s garlic. Near Ingolstadt, Germany. Photo: Timo C. Dinger.

As wild plants, both are protected in some areas and are normally harvested by land owners where they grow naturally. Conservation and special care is practiced to ensure their sustainability.

Fiddleheads with Wild Garlic

Kevin Lamoureux

Wild fiddleheads and wild garlic are available briefly in spring and are best eaten fresh. Sauté in a little oil for a simple rustic delicacy.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Canadian

Servings 4

Calories 110 kcal

Ingredients

10 oz fiddleheads about 30 pieces
3 wild garlics cleaned and chopped
½ cup water
1 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp fresh ground pepper

Instructions

Rinse the fiddleheads and add them, with the water, to a frying pan with a lid.
Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes or until reaching desired tenderness.
Drain the water and add the olive oil and garlic to the pan. Sauté (uncoverefor about 5 minutes.
Add the salt and pepper and serve.

Notes

1 clove of regular garlic may be substituted for wild garlic.

Nutrition

Per serving

Keyword fiddleheads, wild garlic

Did you make this recipe?
Add your comment and rating below
Share your photos on Instagram
@the_worldonaplatter

More fiddlehead and wild garlic suggestions

For something totally different I like to substitute fiddleheads for the spinach in Dal Palak. Wild garlic is also amazing in these recipes: