I love Fiddleheads from lady ferns. I've been gathering and preparing them for years. I love to boil them, then cook them in a stir fry. It reminds me of asparagus but without the weird pee smell after.
I just found your channel so I can learn to forage here. I moved from the South East - where I foraged a good bit - to Washington. Totally different ecosystems so I’m learning what to look for. Thank you for these!
It's my understanding that ferns are slightly toxic which is destroyed in the cooking process. The ferns growing conditions can influence how potent the toxins are as well. Sometimes people can eat them raw with no adverse effects but to side with safety it's advised to cook them. Besides this the environment which they like to grow are often swampy which can also introduce water borne bacteria if not cooked.
My first ever video was on this (it was pretty terrible). I was doing some metadata optimizing on old video when this popped up. You are the first northwest fiddlehead eater on UA-cam that I've seen who actually IDed Lady fern correctly and didn't tell people to eat the yucky ferns.
There tends to be a lot of misconceptions on the web. Which ones were the yucky ones? I'm still not sure about the Bracken fern. Some references say they are carcinogenic while others say many still eat them in other countries and are just fine. I guess I'd rather stay with what we know to be best.
Ya, I avoid bracken fern for the carcinogen claims. Someone was eating spiny wood fern and calling it lady fern. Another was calling sword fern deer fern and eating it raw. Neither seem very appetizing to me, though admittedly, I've never tried either.
I love the way you put your videos together Hank... I know it takes a lot of work to make something so nice. One day I'll actually try one of your recipies... I'm pretty sure I can find some lady ferns around here. Cheers!!
+brightpurpleviking They have a very clean buttery flavor and will take on any seasoning you add them. I imagine these would sauté well with morels or chanterelles.
If you get hungry enough you will find a way to cook it. I want to know what it tastes like. I have never seen them before, of course I live in the south. I would clean it, lace it on a stick and cook it over a fire, or heat up some rocks.
It would be very helpful if you provided some tips on identifying the different kind of fiddleheads.
Thank you for this video! Finally got the right ones today! Yay lady ferns. I'm so excited to try them!
Thank you for watching!
I love Fiddleheads from lady ferns. I've been gathering and preparing them for years. I love to boil them, then cook them in a stir fry. It reminds me of asparagus but without the weird pee smell after.
I was taught when I was little how to identify these. I loved picking them, and watching my mom cook them. However. I hated eating them. XD
I just found your channel so I can learn to forage here. I moved from the South East - where I foraged a good bit - to Washington. Totally different ecosystems so I’m learning what to look for. Thank you for these!
This makes me hungry right now....thanks for sharing this
cool that look so good we use to as a family go out and get them when i was a kid
How can you tell the difference between lady fern and the spiny wood fern? Can you eat the fiddle heads of spiny wood fern as well?
Super cool!
+Scrambled O Thanks bud!
@@TheNorthwestForager We cut leaf lettuce and wild onions that way in the south. You just pour your heated oil & seasonings over the lettuce.
Really nice
Can I ask what they taste like? I’m thinking of trying this myself.
I am sure,if you use indian masala{spices } while cooking and frying this,you will turn vegetarian ☺️☺️
Just out of curiosity; May I ask why you boil some plants before frying but not others?
It's my understanding that ferns are slightly toxic which is destroyed in the cooking process. The ferns growing conditions can influence how potent the toxins are as well. Sometimes people can eat them raw with no adverse effects but to side with safety it's advised to cook them. Besides this the environment which they like to grow are often swampy which can also introduce water borne bacteria if not cooked.
My first ever video was on this (it was pretty terrible). I was doing some metadata optimizing on old video when this popped up. You are the first northwest fiddlehead eater on UA-cam that I've seen who actually IDed Lady fern correctly and didn't tell people to eat the yucky ferns.
There tends to be a lot of misconceptions on the web. Which ones were the yucky ones? I'm still not sure about the Bracken fern. Some references say they are carcinogenic while others say many still eat them in other countries and are just fine. I guess I'd rather stay with what we know to be best.
Ya, I avoid bracken fern for the carcinogen claims. Someone was eating spiny wood fern and calling it lady fern. Another was calling sword fern deer fern and eating it raw. Neither seem very appetizing to me, though admittedly, I've never tried either.
I love the way you put your videos together Hank... I know it takes a lot of work to make something so nice. One day I'll actually try one of your recipies... I'm pretty sure I can find some lady ferns around here. Cheers!!
+Jim Conner Thanks Jim, glad you could pay a visit! You'll have to let me know that day you go for it ;]
So what do they taste like?!
+brightpurpleviking They have a very clean buttery flavor and will take on any seasoning you add them. I imagine these would sauté well with morels or chanterelles.
when shtf am i am in a forest i orobably wont have a home to go tp to prepare my food.
If you get hungry enough you will find a way to cook it. I want to know what it tastes like. I have never seen them before, of course I live in the south. I would clean it, lace it on a stick and cook it over a fire, or heat up some rocks.
@@PriscillaSwaney I just ate some today, taste kinda earthy like morels and buttery/slight green and asparagus flavor , yummy with salt and butter
dude great video but you need to be more careful about the amount of water that you use when cleaning the wild edibles
no guide to id it.
Words
That is one to stay away from.
Until actual research has made totally clear whether cooking destroys all the toxins.
Nice video. Some background music would be great too.
i love the woodsy sounds they add to the outdoorsy feel