Fiddlehead & Flower Month-of-May Salad

fiddlehead fern salad, edible flower salad
fiddlehead fern frond & edible flower
tatsoi & arugula salad
avocado, yukon gold potato, dijon dressing

April showers brought May flowers. And with the upcoming opening of our “ristorante alfresco virtuale” Ciao Fiore! I’ve got edible flowers on my mind. Marigold and Johnny Jump-Up, Nasturtium, Pansy, and Borage too. I spotted the fiddlehead fern fronds at Whole Foods Market, in season right now just shipped down from Portland, Oregon. Flowers and ferns seemed like a pretty pairing, and thus this delightful Month-of-May salad was born.


Edible Flowers in the Salad:

  • marigold – bright orange petals, some with red tips
  • johnny jump up – small purple petals
  • nasturtium – large orange flower
  • pansy – large dark violet-purple flower
  • borage – tiny blue petals

Ciao Fiore! is an enchanting outdoor ristorante on the Mediterranean Coast featuring alfresco dining in an ambrosial flower garden. My Co-Chefs Norma from Platanos, Mangoes & Me! and Debi from Table Talk will meet me in the virtual Italian cucina to create a captivating five-star three-course meal enhanced with edible flowers and herbs dal giardinoCiao Fiore! is a Virtual Restaurant participating inThe 5 Star Makeover Cooking Group “Restaurant Wars” Competition.

tatsoi salad, tat soi salad

Place cleaned, trimmed ferns in boiling water for 4 minutes then plunge in an ice bath. Toss cooled ferns with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and sea salt. Lightly dress tatsoi and arugula with a splash of olive oil and lemon juice. Scatter petals over the salad.

fiddlehead salad, pansy salad

Djion dressing:

  • 1 T. dijon mustard
  • 1 T. lemon juice
  • 1 minced clove garlic
  • 3 T. olive oil
  • salt & pepper

Combine mustard, lemon juice, and garlic. Whisk in olive oil, season to taste. Gently toss diced Yukon gold potatoes and diced avocado with the Dijon dressing. Spoon potato and avocado over the tatsoi and arugula then arrange the fiddleheads around the salad. Finish with a sprinkling of a few more petals plus garnish with a whole flower.

wine pairing edible flowers with rosé

For a fresh springtime experience, enjoy fiddlehead & flower salad with a glass of dry rosé!

(eat flowers and fiddleheads in moderation
taking care to choose edible varieties)


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27 thoughts on “Fiddlehead & Flower Month-of-May Salad”

  1. Your restaurant is going to be so incredibly beautiful!!! I looked for fidleheads at the farmers market and they were out : (
    I suppose I should forgae but I am certain I would kill myself, lol

  2. This is one of the prettiest salads I’ve seen. Lovely plating. 🙂 Just followed you on Twitter. Not sure how I’ve missed that!

  3. This is so beautiful! I love edible flowers and usually have some growing in my early spring garden–except this year. I didn’t get them planted in time before the heat arrived. And, I’ve loved the look of fiddlehead ferns for years, but I’ve still never tried them. Wish I could get them here.

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