Edible Fern

Most of the time if we were not able to have a quick breakfast before going to work, we order breakfast meal and let it delivered at the office. Though sometimes we could no longer manage to eat what we ordered so we often have it for lunch.

It was a rainy Tuesday then when we had this conversation

Buddy: Breakfast?

Me: Yup..

Buddy: So, what is your order?

Me: Oh I have "pako" here.

Buddy: "Pako"? Nakakain ba yon?

Me: Yup! why?

Buddy: Haven't heard about it .

Me: Oh well, You could try eating it later hehehe!!!

Buddy: How did you cook it?

Me: Nope, I did not cook it, I will make salad later. A fern salad.

Buddy: Can't wait tasting it, Could I see how it looks like?

(I wasn't able to take picture of it before the salad thing, but thanks to google for having this picture.--http://pinakbet.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/486pako02.jpg)

It was first introduced to me by my grandpa(father side) when I was i think 7 years old and became one of my favorite edible plant. So this is how my "pako" salad looks like then..

There are lots of ways to prepare this edible fern – you could have it fresh as vegetable salad mixed with fresh tomatoes, a little of calamansi juice and "bagoong" or any dressing that you want. Some folks cooked it in coconut milk or simply blanched and mixed with grated green mango and onions.

Well anyway, I have learned from my mom that this fern only grows at the sides of very cold rivers or streams and usually folks and kids go near rivers and picked them and sell them to have extra cash ( one bundle I think ranges from Php15 to Php20)

Also you might try doing this recipe:

Bundle of Pako (1 or 2)

2 Red/Salted Egg (Itlog na Maalat)

1 Onion (either white or red) chopped

2 Tokwa (deep fry until golden brown then chopped )(optional)

3 Tomatoes chopped (desired shape)

8 Tbsp calamansi juice

4 tsp patis

a pinch of salt and pepper (to taste)

1 tbsp sugar

- wash pako, remove young leaves and tops from the stem. disregard the stem. wash again the young leaves and tops, put in a bowl then set aside

-mix onion, tomato, calamansi juice, patis, salt, pepper and sugar. (taste will be dependent to what you prefer. if you want it sweeter you could add some more brown sugar) in another bowl.

- in a bigger bowl put the pako, toss in the dressing together with the salted egg and the tokwa

-serve and enjoy eating the edible fern salad.

Oh, before I forget, my buddy enjoyed eating the salad and looking forward to another recipe soon.