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Cream of Fiddleheads Soup

Photo Credit
bangordailynews.com
Jennifer Keating
Yield
Makes 6 servings.
Category
Soups, Stews, Chowders
Course
Soup
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Early spring means fiddleheads. These are the ostrich fern’s young fronds. If you can’t find fiddleheads, try this soup with sliced fresh asparagus, but we urge you to try to hunt down these delightful tender plants of spring if you can. Learn more.

Fiddleheads are the tender, tightly furled fronts of the Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). They’re named for resembling the ornamental ends of fiddles and other stringed instruments. 

You can harvest fiddleheads for free if you know where to find them. These edible ferns grow prolifically in wild and wet areas near water throughout New England and eastern parts of Canada.

Also, you can often find fiddleheads at local farmers’ markets and health food stores, but this short-lived delicacy can be pricey.

Note: The ostrich fern’s young shoots look like a number of other young ferns—many of which are inedible or even poisonous. ONLY consume foraged fiddleheads if you can CONFIRM that they are indeed those of the ostrich fern!

Read more about fiddleheads, ferns, and folklore here!

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups fiddleheads, cleaned and finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 cubes chicken bouillon or 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1 small onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Steam the fiddleheads for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Set aside.
  2. In a saucepan, melt the butter and bouillon cubes over medium heat. Add the fiddleheads, onions, and garlic, and cook for 10 minutes. 
  3. Add the milk, stir frequently, and heat thoroughly. Add the cream, stir to incorporate, and season with salt and pepper. Serve steaming hot.
About The Author

Jennifer Keating

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She is an active equestrian and spends much of her free time at the barn. When she’s not riding, she loves caring for her collection of house plants, baking, and playing in her gardens. Read More from Jennifer Keating
 

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Comments

Michelle Giroux (not verified)

5 years 7 months ago

Do you think this could be made in a crockpot? I have not found any crockpot fiddlehead recipies

Hi, Michelle. We would not recommend making this soup in a slow cooker.

Ron (not verified)

5 years 8 months ago

Can you buy seeds or seedlings to plant in your garden? Are they an annual or perennial? Do they companion plant well with anything?

Depending on where you are located, you may be able to find Ostrich ferns at a local nursery. They grow like most other ornamental ferns, preferring cool, moist, shaded areas with rich soil. They’re commonly found in Canada and the northern half of the US, so if you’re south of Zone 7, you may have difficulty growing them due to the summer heat. They are perennials and go well with most other shade-loving plants. Ostrich ferns get fairly tall (3ft+), so consider planting shorter plants—like small hostas—around them.

ol (not verified)

5 years 8 months ago

Where do you live that you can harvest ostrich ferns? Your area must have much better grocers than where I live. One does good to find fresh herbs, much less ostrich fern.

Irene chaoman (not verified)

5 years 8 months ago

What is fiddle head ead?,I live in south Carolina have never heard of it

lala (not verified)

7 years 9 months ago

There are ferns that look very similar to Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) that are TOXIC. You need to know what you're doing if you're going to eat fiddleheads!

Right you are. If you are unfamiliar with Ostrich ferns, we suggest buying your fiddleheads from the market instead of digging them up yourself.