Along with the arrival of summer squashes this season are their dainty, edible flowers. The bright orange blossoms sold at farmers' and specialty markets are generally from zucchini plants, though the flowers of other summer squashes may be eaten, as well. The blossoms are often served fried – a dish we will never turn down, but there are several other ways to fully enjoy the beautiful color and delicate texture and flavor of this summer ingredient.
Fried: From Mexico to Italy, frying is one of the most popular ways to prepare squash blossoms. Simply batter and fry them or stuff them first. Cheeses (ricotta, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese) and herbs (basil, thyme, parsley) make good fillings. Try adding lemon zest to the cheese or season the crispy fried blossoms with a squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkling of coarse salt.
• Recipe inspiration: Fried Squash Blossoms, from The Kitchn
Baked: If deep frying turns you off, or you just want to try something different, you could stuff the blossoms with cheese – savory or sweet – and then bake them in the oven. Steaming is another healthy option.
• Recipe inspiration: Waldy Malouf’s Baked Squash Blossoms with Ricotta and Honey, from New York magazine
Pasta: We sometimes gently tear or make a chiffonade of squash blossoms to serve over pasta, risotto, or salad. The blossoms can also be cooked into a pasta sauce. This is one of our favorite recipes.
• Recipe inspiration: Pappardelle with Zucchini Blossom Sauce, from Orangette
Quesadilla: Squash blossoms are abundant in Mexico, where they are known as flores de calabaza. There's something very satisfying about the combination of the mildly sweet, squash-y blossoms with creamy cheese.
• Recipe inspiration: Squash Blossom Quesadillas, from Homesick Texan
Soup: How about a fresh, summery soup with squash blossoms, zucchini, and corn?
• Recipe inspiration: Golden Squash Blossom Crema, from Rick Bayless
Any other ideas? Share them in the comments!
Related: Good Question: Where Can I Find Squash Blossoms?
(Images: Emily Ho, Kathryn Hill)
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one of the BEST soups i ever had was a flor de calabasa soup in Oaxaca. It was a squash soup, with the blossoms in it. I have no idea how they prepared it, but it had small pieces of queso Oaxaqueno in it. It's hard to find the exact Oxacan cheese here in the states but it has a grassy taste and is deliciously melty. The soup was so creamy. mmmmmm
I like them stuffed with ricotta, garlic, anchovy, and mint and fried in a light tempura batter!
Mmm, on pizza! No red sauce, just cheese, garlic, a couple of anchovies, and squash blossoms!
Erin: love the pizza idea!
I made a pasta sauce once with zucchini blossoms (from my grandmother's garden!), not unlike the gorgeous one on Orangette's site. It was ages ago, so I forget the exact ingredients, but it was creamy and resplendant with saffron, and I remember it as extraordinarily delicious. I wish I could find those blossoms more readily!
http://www.abreadaday.com
this zucchini blossom taco recipe is a favorite of mine! http://www.chow.com/recipes/10984
I like them fried, with the lightest possible batter:
http://www.salmoncabin.com/2009/06/fried-zucchini-flowers.html
I planted a double batch of squash and zucchini, just so we could have the blossoms and vegetables. Love them fried, but also cheese stuffed and baked.
I collect squash flowers from my compost heap, where there are a dozen volunteer squash plants, that will otherwise result in who knows what (usually underripe by the time it gets cold). I like to steam eggs and near the end, arrange a flower on top of each egg. Put the lid back on the fry pan and steam another minute. A bit of green is good, eg fresh chive or tarragon. The flowers look beautiful, which is something missing from the fry/bake recipes.
Love the ideas, as I only know the fried recipes for courgette flowers. I'm also interested in the idea of steamed eggs; how do you do that?
I bought squash blossoms on a whim today from a tiny vegetable stand outside our library. The gardener recommended making quesadillas but I didn't have any tortillas at home. Tried the first Fried Squash Blossoms recipe and my family loved it. My seven-year-old licked his plate. Thank you so much for these recipes!