I've meant to try cooking courgette / zucchini blossoms for the last couple of years and have never got round to it. Now I'm wondering why I haven't done this earlier !
The blossoms from courgettes are an extreme delicacy and impossible to buy anywhere other than Europe to my knowledge. With courgettes, the plant produces both male and female flowers. the females develop into the fruits... so it's the male ones you want to pick. Actually, these are summer bush patty pan squash flowers. Patty pan squash are similar in habit to courgettes and you generally cook them in the same fashion.
Remove the stamens from the middle and clean out any bugs. Mine were heaving with horrid little black thunderflies - so I had to be rougher with them than I would have liked. Try gently with paper towling.
Meanwhile, make your filling and tempura batter. Filling is nice but not a neccessity, so leave it out if you prefer.
For the filling - I used a great big spoonful of cream cheese and mixed in a little garlic granules, ground corriander and a tiny sprinking of ground crushed chillies. Season with salt and black pepper. Put a good teaspoonful into the centre of each flower.
For the tempura : 1/2 a cup of plain flour, ice cold sparking water and some seasoning. Mix it into a loose paste with a whisk or fork.
Dip the flowers in the batter and drop straight into hot oil approx 1" deep. Cook each flower for 30 > 60 seconds and then lift out and set on to kitchen paper. I cooked the flowers 2 at a time in a small, deep saucepan.
I'm afraid this is the only photo
There was too much going on in the kitchen. I was trying to cook three different meals tonight - one for Oliver, one for Steve and mine all at the same time. Steve did have a go at the flowers but decided the texture wasn't for him on the first bite. I (on the other hand) thought these were simply fantastic and was all too happy to get to eat the rest myself ! Ooops.... did I admit that ?
Seriously - if you grow courgettes or squash (or know someone who does) - don't miss out on this amazing summer delicacy.
I've never tried these though have seen the recipe lots - I've 4 squash plants this year so maybe I'll have a go soon. Thanks so much for sharing Sarah-Jane.
ReplyDeleteIt's very nice your flowers, I cook something it but i never try it with cheese inside. A good idea!
ReplyDeleteThese look very nice . Ive seen this or somehting similar to this in other blogs too but have never tried them cos we definitely cant get them here. They looks os pretty too and Im sure tastes heavenly with all that filling.
ReplyDeleteThis is the very reason I've grown my own courgettes the last few years. They are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI stuff mine with a mixture of ricotta, greated parmesan, chilli, mint and lemon juice.
We very rarely get the fruit off the plants fully grown as I also use the female flowers with tiny courgettes attached for this too.
Nice job with those blossoms, I like that type of blossom, it looks more like a flower and very delicate....your tempura came out well too, shows off the flower!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you made these and I bet everyone loved them!
This is the first time I've got round to eating the blossoms and I'm very impressed. They are SO yummy.
ReplyDeleteIt was my first time making a tempura batter. I just used seasoning, flour and cold soda water. With the left over batter, I knocked up a few home made chicken nuggets for my toddler. He was more than happy.
H - I agree - I'm now really pleased I've over planted squash and courgettes as I can harvest extra flowers. Plants are taking a battering in the high winds atm though.
Thank you all for your comments. I'll definately be cooking courgette flowers again AND playing around more with tempura :-)
wat a beautiful flower tempura :)
ReplyDelete