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Damp, Delicious Spring Treats

The Union Square Greenmarket smelled faintly like the forest floor. So many tender green sprouts with wet spring soil still clinging to everything.

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On Saturday morning, Terhure Orchards from Salt Point, NY sold wild asparagus, thick and thin. Their long rows of choose-your-own asparagus reminded us of pencils rolling across a teacher's desk.

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Sweet Berry Farms sold pints of fiddle head ferns ("tastes like spring!" as the sign said) and many vendors had coolers full of pungent ramps.

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What are you making with all these tender treats?

Comments (6)

Eggs (from the greenmarket of course) scrambled with ramps, and served over steamed asparagus. A shave of parmesan on top, and...delicious.

posted by jblue on 2007-05-21 17:51:53
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What are ramps and what do I do with them?

Fiddlehead ferns are at my local farmers market, on the other side of the country. What do I do with those?

posted by mjoe on 2007-05-21 18:22:08
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Mmm... fiddleheads. Wish I could find them here in LA. The only thing that needs to be done with them really is a quick steam or saute depending on how cooked you want them to be.

posted by dbeechum on 2007-05-21 19:14:24
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For ferns, heat up some olive oil and diced garlic until the garlic just turned golden, than drop the ferns in. season with salt.

posted by Kathy on 2007-05-21 21:04:50
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I just looked for fiddlehead recipes on the internet, and came up with this one:

Marinated Fiddleheads
8 oz fiddleheads
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white balsamic or wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Greek seasoning or other flavored salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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Boil cleaned fiddleheads for six minutes and drain. Meanwhile mix up the marinade stirring well. Put the fiddleheads into a clean lidded jar. Turn the jar to make sure all the fiddleheads are well-covered. Leave overnight in the refrigerator. Keeps for a week in the refrigerator.

It seemed like a lot of marinade for a 1/2 lb of fiddleheads, so I halved it. I steamed the fiddleheads for about five minutes, and at the last minute I added in some steamed asparagus as well (about another 1/2 lb). It's delicious! The fiddleheads have a strong taste and texture, so they don't need much added to them.

I think there was a discussion on AT kitchen last spring?

posted by sarahw on 2007-05-22 08:57:36
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