Monday, August 25, 2014

Omelet with Helecho Yuyu or Fern Sprouts


Helecho yuyu or fern sprouts are very popular and delicious part of Amazonic Kichwa cuisine.

The sprouts are new growths at the end of the fern leaves that thick and green, without the actual leaves yet.

The Kichwas pick these sprouts when they find them and prepare food with them.

They are especially delicious cooked and served with traditional food but can be eaten also alone.

I was given a gift of few sprouts in a banana leaf as a form of gratitude from one special education student’s grandmother.

She advised me to cook them and serve them with maito, which is meat or fish cooked inside a leaf.

Since I wasn’t certain I could do a maito on my own, she told me to fry them with egg and eat them that way.

I was told that they especially delicious fried with some onion also.

The idea got my mouth watering and at home I decided to try to do a fern sprout omelet.


Fern Sprout Omelet


1 handful of fern sprouts
2 eggs
1 onion
Salt
Pepper
Oil or butter


1. Chop the fern sprouts into even pieces.
2. Chop the onion into fine strings.
3. Mix the eggs until they form foam.
4. Heat a pan and add the oil or butter, I like to use rapeseed oil but it really depends on your preference.
5. Fry the fern sprouts together with onions until the onions are caramelized.
6. Mix the egg foam with salt and pepper and whisk it on the pan together with fern sprouts and onions.
7. Let it cook on both sides.

Enjoy!

34 comments:

  1. I've seen these used in pasta and as a ravioli filling. I didn't know they grew in Ecuador. Hope you enjoyed them!

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    1. They are really delicious. I had eaten them before but never prepared myself.

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  2. Like the idea of fern sprout omelette. Can you get them in the UK?

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    1. You would need to find out which ferns are edible. It might not be exactly the same but I think the flavor would be close enough.

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  3. I have a few of your Ecuador posts on my travel board in Pinterest

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    1. Thank you! I hope you get to come here and try out everything :)

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  4. Love how healthy this is! I might just be ablt to get my kids to eat vegetables this way.

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  5. This looks delish, thanks so much for sharing.

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  6. This looks so interesting. I love finding out about your life and the culture you live in

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  7. That looks delicious - really unusual and so well presented x x

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  8. Sorry just the word sprout is still putting me off.

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  9. I would so love to try this recipe but I have no idea where to buy them from in the UK

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    1. I think the best way would be find out which ferns are edible in UK and then pick them yourself. The old fashioned way ;)

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  10. It's so interesting finding out about other cultures, including local food. Hope you enjoyed the omelette.

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  11. I've never heard of fern sprouts, but that looks so good! Perhaps if I ever get the opportunity to travel some day... ;-)

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  12. I am amazed at the types of foods you've posted. Great pics.

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  13. Wow! Looks like you can do many things with these fern leaves.

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  14. Your omelet looks yummy and is something I have never heard of! Wonder where I can get my hands on some of those?

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  15. One of the best omelets I've seen. Thank you for the great idea

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  16. I love omelets - and one with fern sprouts must be delish!

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  17. OOh I have never tried fern sprouts, I must look out for them and I am a huge fan of omelettes x

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  18. I've never heard of a fern sprout. Can you get it in UK? It looks like something I would love to try.

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  19. That looks absolutely fantastic. I would really like to try this one.

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  20. That looks fabulous, I would love to try it!

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  21. This looks super healthy but I've never been a fan of sprouts so would substitute those x

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  22. Wow that looks superb! I have never heard of fern sprouts before!

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  23. I've never heard of that type of Helechos. I love healthy meals!

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  24. I love trying new things like this but I'm curious about how you would describe the flavor of the sprouts. Are they tangy, tart, light-flavored, bitter, sweet, spicy, etc.

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    1. The texture reminds me a lot of spring beans. The flavor is tangier and maybe a bit spicy.

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  25. I love omelettes but never heard of fern sprouts before

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  26. Wow these look amazing and really different. I want to try them now!!

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  27. I've never heard of these before! Which other food would you compare the taste to? x

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