fresh palm hearts

[Lucinda]

Don't be mad, but we cut down two royals and two cabbage palms in my yard this morning. It was a case of having too much of a good thing .... and a spot was needed for a bamboo.

The good part, though: we salvaged the hearts of all four palms and are planning to feast on swamp cabbage.

However, there is far more than we can use in a week. So my question: is there a way to preserve the fresh heart so it can be served at a big family gathering in early November? Can it be frozen? Stored in the fridge?

Any information and/or recipes will be gratefully received.

Lucinda

[KennyRE317]

how do you even cook palm heart? and what's it taste like?

[Hammer]

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/35539-it-took-5-years-to-make-this-salad/?fromsearch=1

Maybe this will help.

[KennyRE317]

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/35539-it-took-5-years-to-make-this-salad/?fromsearch=1

Maybe this will help.

thanks for the link. I was always curious in how they'd taste or how you'd go about prepping it to eat

[_Keith]

The best way to preserve it is to pack it in dry ice immediately and ship it to me. I will take it from there.

[Lucinda]

lol Keith. Will you bring it back for our party in November?

For those unfamiliar with "Swamp Cabbage", here is the way Floridians like it:

1. Fry 1/4 pound of diced salt or white pork bacon.

2. Once the bacon is fully cooked, drain the excess grease.

3. Add two cups of water to your large pot of chipped swamp cabbage and bring it to a full foil.

4. Add 1 tablespoon of salt.

5. Add 1 teaspoon of pepper.

6. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar.

7. Add the salt/white bacon you have already prepared.

Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

This recipe serves 8-20 people depending on the size of the heart. Goes especially well with grilled meats or fried fish.

I love Swamp Cabbage, but used to fret that acquiring the main ingredient required killing a palm (Sabal palmetto, in this case). From experience, I have learned since that the cabbage palm is tough to put down. You can saw it off at the ground and new shoots will sprout from the center of the stump. Cut those off and more come up. We visited a palm heart plantation during the Rio biennial (2010) where the crop grows in clumps and just a few stems are cut at a time from any given plant. Totally sustainable.

Here's hoping we can find a way to preserve the hearts cut this morning. Don't want to topple any more palms in my yard (except for three Syagrus r.).

Lucinda

[Ken Johnson]

Another way to cook 'em is in a fritter batter. For sure you can freeze them. You can even make the batter and freeze it. For a planned party I'm sure you can "find" some more fresh stuff...hint hint...

Corned Beef and Cabbage? try palms heat instead of cabbage.

[Lucinda]

Thanks, Ken. I was hoping you'd have a suggestion or two. Love the fritter idea.

I read somewhere that fresh (frozen) palm heart turns mushy when thawed. True????

Lucinda

[Ken Johnson]

Everything gets mushy after freezing but you wont be able to tell if you cook it. Salad may be another story...