The red huckleberry can be easily foraged in the redwood forests that tower along the coast of northern California. I picked these babies near my campsite in Jughandle Creek Farm, near Caspar and just a few miles north of Mendocino, which happens to be one of the most picturesque villages along the US Pacific coast. They are tiny, about the size of a blueberry, so It took me a couple of hours to harvest a pint this morning. You only need to add a couple of handfuls to your favorite pancake batter to make some of the most delicious hotcakes you have ever eaten. The berries are not sweet, but instead add a fresh tart, acidity to the pancake flavor and also because of there moisture give them a more fluffy texture.
I like to use the Arrowhead Mills Buttermilk Pancake Mix and substitute almond milk for water in the recipe. It takes a little experience to know the right batter consistency, not too thick and not too thin, to get those perfect fluffy pancakes. Please use real maple syrup and not those cheap corn syrup maple syrup flavored substitutes. I'm going to be tempted to eat huckleberry pancakes for breakfast every morning until I burn out on them!
Also, you can add them to your favorite cereal, oatmeal, or smoothie. I'll be adding them to my next salad as well. Seems they are used for chutneys and added to fish and meat dishes by some. They store for days in your refridgerator or you can keep them longer by just freezing them. If I had a food dehydrator I'd certainly preserve some to add to my homemade trail mix.
Adding wild edibles to your diet is healthy eating at its best. Wild red huckleberries high in antioxidants double that of blueberries and also high in vitamin C.
Since I'm lucky enough to be in nature daily, I'm constantly learning about new wild edibles to add to my diet. Stay tuned and follow and I'll be letting you know how easy it is to forage in the wild. It's both fun and nutritious!