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    Home » Recipes » Veggies

    Roasted Fiddlehead Ferns

    Published: April 4, 2023 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 254 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure Policy.
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    Roasted Fiddlehead Ferns highlight these seasonal gems so well. Have you ever them? Fiddlehead season is only a few short weeks of the year.

    Depending on where you live you might not even know what they are. Fiddleheads are actually edible ferns that are used as vegetables.

    Roasted Fiddlehead Ferns recipe.Pin

    You can make fiddlehead recipes in numerous ways, and they can be found in soups, salads and pasta dishes.

    You can find them in grocery stores and farmers’ markets, but they are very seasonal and disappear fast. If you are adventurous, wild fiddleheads can be found in the woods.

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    Ontario Pork was thrilled when I created a fiddlehead stir-fry recipe for their site. In fact, they even published it in On The Go Magazine. Pop by and grab the recipe.

    RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this edible fern side dish can be found at the bottom of this post.

    This Fiddlehead Recipe Needs:

    A simple recipe that showcases these tasty little gems.

    Fiddleheads  washed and ready to roast.Pin
    • fresh fiddlehead ferns
    • olive oil
    • salt & pepper
    • feta cheese

    Roasting Fiddlehead Ferns

    The most common way is to boil and then sauté them. But with this recipe, they are roasted.

    Fiddleheads in a roasting dish ready to go into the oven.Pin
    1. Start by washing the fiddleheads (several times) and then patting dry (I use a kitchen towel). Trim any dry stalk and remove any brown on the fern itself. If you use these as soon as possible, you will avoid having to remove very much from them. The longer they sit, the more brown they get.
    2. Place washed fiddleheads into a roasting dish. Coat with olive oil. I used butter flavoured in this recipe for some added flavour. Season with salt and pepper. For a nice change of pace try some smoked sea salt.
    3. Put the dish into the oven, and roast. Since you want to make sure you kill any bacteria, roast for 25-30 minutes.
    4. Once cooked, garnish with feta cheese (this is optional but REALLY good) and enjoy!

    Harvesting Fiddleheads

    As a child, I remember my mom actually going off into the woods and picking fresh fiddleheads. The first time she did this I thought she brought weeds home for us to eat. This wild produce was certainly much different than the morel mushrooms she would pick.

    This little edible fern also called “ostrich fern” can be a little difficult to find. The fiddlehead season is VERY SHORT. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on some, be sure to grab them!

    Close up of fiddlehead ferns fresh from the market.Pin

    The growing season is from late April to early June.

    Your best bet is to check out your local vegetable markets. Some grocery stores will carry them. You can also sometimes find frozen ones in speciality stores.

    I am always excited to find these in the store or market. Unlike my mom, I have yet to venture into the woods to pick them for myself. I try to make sure I get my seasonal fill when these are available. I think they are the cutest little things ever.

    Roasted ostrich ferns right out of the oven.Pin

    FAQ’s

    What do they taste like?

    They sort of have the texture of asparagus with an earthy flavour. They are very fragile, meaning they don’t keep long, so it’s best you use them as soon as possible.

    Are they toxic?

    Fiddleheads have to be cooked before you can eat them. It is not advised to eat them raw as they can contain bacteria, so cooking them will kill any bacteria that may be on them. 
    Here is a great article regarding food safety tips.
    From a nutrition standpoint, fiddleheads really are a superfood. They are a great source of vitamins, antioxidants, and fibre.

    Where do fiddleheads grow?

    In Canada, you can find them mostly in New Brunswick, southern Quebec and southern Ontario. They can also be found in the central and eastern USA.

    Fiddleheads roasted and topped with feta cheese.Pin

    If you have the chance to get your hands on some of these beautiful seasonal delights, give Roasted Fiddlehead Ferns a try. If you are like me, you will have a hard time waiting for the next season.

    Give these roasted and grilled vegetables a try too:

    • Simple Roasted Tomatoes are a must during harvest season. I have tasty bags of tomatoes to use in recipes and sauces all year long.
    • Grilled Shishito Peppers are a fund appetizer for bbq parties.
    • Simple Grilled Veggies are the perfect side dish for any meal.
    • Grilled Garlic Scapes are another seasonal item you won’t want to miss.

    Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU.

    Need a new side dish idea?

    • Roasted Eggplant Slices (a great alternative to garlic bread)
    • Roasted Shallots (perfect on pizza or added to hummus)
    • Roasted Red Peppers (so much better than store-bought)
    • Grilled Hakurei Turnips and Radishes (what a great combination)
    Fiddlehead Recipe PinPin
    Roasted Fiddlehead Ferns recipe.

    Roasted Fiddlehead Ferns

    Fresh fiddleheads are perfectely roasted with olive oil, and topped with feta cheese. A simple side dish that is easy and delicious.
    5 from 132 votes
    Pin Recipe Print Rate Save To Your Recipe Box Saved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Healthy, Veggies
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 125kcal
    Author: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound fresh fiddlehead ferns
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil (I used butter flavoured)
    • salt & pepper (to taste)
    • 3 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 425º F.
    • Wash the fiddleheads (several times) and pat dry. I used a kitchen towel.
    • Remove any loose brown leaves, and trim any dry ends.
    • Place cleaned fiddleheads into a roasting dish.
    • Coat with the olive oil.
    • Season with salt & pepper. I use smoked sea salt.
    • Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring about ½ way through.
    • Remove from oven and place on a serving tray.
    • Garnish with the crumbled feta cheese.

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 159mg | Potassium: 288mg | Vitamin A: 2795IU | Vitamin C: 20.1mg | Calcium: 94mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy
    Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.

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    MEET THE AUTHOR

    Gloria Duggan is the author for Homemade & Yummy, where she creates fun and easy recipes. She is also a brand ambassador/influencer for well-known companies. Gloria has judged food competitions and has posted about local food events. Gloria's work has been featured in magazines, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts. Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz

      April 22, 2025 at 7:23 pm

      This was a great recipe – my fiddleheads were very small so it only took 10 minutes to roast them. So important to get the brown papery stuff off the fiddleheads – otherwise they can be bitter. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        April 23, 2025 at 8:56 am

        I am so happy you enjoyed the recipe for roasted fiddleheads, they are a seasonal treat for sure.

    2. Carol

      May 29, 2023 at 5:12 pm

      I grew up in New Brunswick. Probably sixty five years ago and our dad used to take us out as small kids and get us to help him pick them. I’ve always loved them. I am in ontario now and they had them today in the grocery store. I will try this recipe but I was wondering if you could cook them in the air fryer as well.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        May 31, 2023 at 9:33 am

        I have never tried to cook them in the air fryer. I would think it would be fine.

    3. Lori

      May 14, 2023 at 11:29 am

      Do you need to blanch fiddle heads before roasting?

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        May 14, 2023 at 11:30 am

        You can, but I did not for this recipe.

    4. Tamie Coleman

      May 06, 2023 at 5:55 pm

      I had an overload of cherry tomatoes so I added them with the fiddleheads roasting them together. Needless to say my family and myself have some very happy taste buds

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        May 08, 2023 at 8:53 am

        That sounds like a wonderful idea.

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