Fiddlehead Ferns And Angel Hair Pasta Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the angel hair pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
• Stir the oil, parsley, lemon juice and lemon peel in a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and toss with enough reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and red pepper flakes, to taste. Sprinkle grated lemon peel over pasta for extra flavor and texture. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve.
• Combine the oil and crushed red pepper flakes in a heavy small saucepan. Cook over low heat until a thermometer inserted into the oil registers 180 degrees F, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Transfer the oil and pepper flakes to a 4-ounce bottle. Seal the lid. Refrigerate up to 1 month.
• Yield: 2 cups
• Prep Time: 2 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 2 hours

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook until very al dente, about 9 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
• Combine the ricotta, lemon zest and a few grinds of black pepper in small bowl and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter begins to foam, add the fiddleheads and sprinkle with pepper and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring gently, until the fiddleheads are crisp-tender and caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the fiddleheads to a bowl. Add the lemon juice, cooked pasta and reserved water to the skillet and return to medium-high heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly and the pasta is al dente. Add the ricotta mixture and lightly toss until the pasta is just coated.
• Divide the pasta among 4 bowls and top with the fiddleheads and a few grinds of black pepper.

Steps:

• Before you're ready to cook cut about 1/8-inch off the thick ends if they look brown and rinse the fern shoots thoroughly to get rid of the brown fuzzy chaff that clings to their sides. Dry the shoots thoroughly before cooking by first spinning them in a lettuce spinner and then patting them with paper towels. Melt butter in a pan at medium heat. Add garlic, parsley and fiddleheads to the pan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Saute for 5 minutes or until they are done.

Steps:

• For the toasted breadcrumbs: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the baguette into large cubes. Add to a food processor and pulse until processed into crumbs. Spread the crumbs out on a baking sheet and toss with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Transfer to the oven and toast until golden brown, stirring as needed to evenly brown, 5 to 10 minutes.
• For the clams: Add the clams, 2 tablespoons of the chopped Calabrian chiles, garlic, onion, two of the thyme sprigs, white wine, 1 cup water and some kosher salt to a saucepan. Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, and cook just until the clams open, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the clams from the broth with tongs and allow to cool. Reserve the clam broth. Discard any clams that haven't opened. Once the clams have cooled, remove from shells and chop. Set aside.
• For the sauce: To a large high-sided saute pan, add the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil and allow the butter to melt. Once melted, add the remaining 2 tablespoons chopped Calabrian chilies and the remaining 2 thyme sprigs, along with a ladleful or two of the clam broth. Bring to a boil. Add a touch of cream and the chopped clams, stirring until just combined. Remove the thyme sprigs. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, along with more broth if needed, and toss.
• Serve in a bowl, garnished with chopped parsley and toasted breadcrumbs.

Steps:

• Clean the fiddleheads by snipping off the tough 1/8-inch at the bottom and any stray coarse tips visible. Wash the ferns in cold water. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil and add a teaspoon salt. Add the fiddleheads to the boiling water, return to the boil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or just until tender. Drain the boiling water and refresh the ferns in ice water. Drain and pat dry the ferns.
• In a large saute pan, heat the butter over medium heat. As the butter begins to bubble, add the dry, blanched fiddleheads and saute for 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.