Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi
A unique twist to our classic shrimp scampi recipe, this Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi is a flavorful way to enjoy fresh, seasonal fiddleheads.
Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi Recipe
Shrimp scampi is a dinnertime staple in our house, but I’m always looking for unique ways to dress up this classic shrimp pasta so it doesn’t get boring… and sometimes it ends up looking very different from the original.
This fiddlehead shrimp scampi stays pretty true to the original, allowing the garlicky butter-and-wine sauce to shine through, while incorporating the nutty, sweet flavor of perfectly cooked, tender fiddleheads. If you enjoy serving asparagus or green beans alongside seafood dishes, you will love this flavor combination.
What is a fiddlehead fern? Fiddleheads are the tightly coiled young shoots of a fern that has not yet unfurled into a full frond. They are so named because of the visual similarity to a violin. They are often foraged in the wild and in North America, we eat the shoots of the Ostrich Fern. Fiddleheads are only available for a few weeks of Spring and usually just at local farmer’s markets, though I have seen them pop up at small grocery stores in recent years.
While some fiddlehead aficionados forage for their own fiddleheads, it is best to only do this with an experienced guide as shoots from other fern varieties can be toxic. (Also, you want to ensure that you are foraging in approved areas and not on private property.)
How to Cook a Fiddlehead Fern
Fiddleheads are closest in texture to a green bean and can also be compared texture and flavor-wise to asparagus, so they require the same gentle preparation methods to ensure they retain their delicate flavor and crunch. Over cooking fiddleheads can lead to a mushy, less-than-stellar eating experience.
Rinse your fiddleheads well in cold water before preparing to remove dirt. I like to either delicately steam for 5-8 minutes before a quick pan sear, or blanche in heavily salted, boiling water for 2 minutes before draining and then pan searing.
More Fiddlehead Recipes
- Fiddlehead Soup
- Fiddlehead Salmon Salad
- Spicy Pickled Fiddleheads from The Spruce Eats
- Beer Battered Fiddleheads from Bacon is Magic
Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi Ingredients
- Fiddleheads, well cleaned
- Pasta, uncooked
- Shrimp, thawed if frozen
- Olive Oil
- Butter, optional
- Garlic, minced
- White wine, optional<— can use chicken broth in it’s place (PS, this is my favorite white wine and you can enjoy the rest of the bottle with your meal since the recipe only needs a little!)
- Italian Seasoning, to taste <– grab our recipe for homemade Italian seasoning here
- Lemon juice
- Parmesan, grated
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: if you want a creamy sauce, you can whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream at the end of the cook time and allow to thicken for 2 minutes before removing from the heat.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Heavy stockpot or Dutch Oven <– highly recommended for even cooking and seamlessly transferring recipes from the stove to the oven
- Skillet
- Sharp kitchen knife <– this is a great set
- Colander
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.
How to Make Shrimp Scampi with Fiddleheads
Place a small saucepan of water over high heat and bring to a boil.
Place the fiddleheads in a steamer basket or colander and steam over the boiling water for 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and discard water.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions and begin to cook the shrimp.
Add the oil to a frying pan and once heated, add the shrimp, cooking until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the garlic to the oil, cook for 1 minute, then add the fiddleheads.
Cook fiddleheads until they reach your desired level of doneness.
Add the shrimp back in to the skillet to reheat, along with the wine, Italian seasoning and lemon juice. Continue to heat for 3 minutes.
Once the pasta is done cooking, drain it and add to the shrimp-fiddlehead mixture, tossing to coat completely with the oil-butter mixture and spices.
Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
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Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi
How to make a Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi, a unique way to enjoy fresh Spring fiddleheads. This unique shrimp scampi is fresh, flavorful and light
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fiddleheads, well cleaned
- 1lb Pasta, uncooked
- 1lb Shrimp, thawed if frozen
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Butter, optional
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
- 1/4 cup White wine, optional <— can use chicken broth in it’s place
- Italian Seasoning, to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice
- Parmesan, grated
Instructions
- Place a small saucepan of water over high heat and bring to a boil.
- Place the fiddleheads in a steamer basket or colander and steam over the boiling water for 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat and discard water.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions and begin to cook the shrimp.
- Add the oil to a frying pan and once heated, add the shrimp, cooking until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove shrimp to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the garlic to the oil, cook for 1 minute, then add the fiddleheads.
- Cook fiddleheads until they reach your desired level of doneness. Add the shrimp back in to the skillet to reheat, along with the wine, Italian seasoning and lemon juice. Continue to heat for 3 minutes.
- Once the pasta is done cooking, drain it and add to the shrimp-fiddlehead mixture, tossing to coat completely with the oil-butter mixture and spices.
- Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 423Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 257mgSodium: 1377mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 34g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this fresh, Spring take on a classic Shrimp Scampi.
For more delicious vegetable dishes, check out our full collection of vegetable recipes here:
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