Stuffed Zucchini Flowers Recipes

Steps:

• Gently pull the stamen out of each zucchini flower. Set the flowers aside.
• Beat the flour, eggs, and salt together in a bowl until they are smooth. Beat in the milk. Set the batter aside.
• Mix the mozzarella, capers, tomato and basil together and fill the inside of each zucchini flower with some of this mixture. Fold the ends of the petals over the filling to enclose it.
• Heat the oil to a depth of 2 inches in a heavy saucepan or a wok.
• Dip the stuffed flowers into the batter, allowing any excess to run off. Fry the flowers until they turn light gold, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain them on absorbent paper as they are done. Sprinkle them lightly with salt and serve them while they are warm.

Steps:

• For the stuffing:.
• Mix the ricotta, cream, chives, parsley, lemon zest and anchovy, if using. Season with salt and pepper. Using a piping bag, fill the blossoms with the stuffing. Keep in the refrigerator until ready to fry.
• For the marinara sauce:.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Saute the garlic and onions until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes. Using a hand mixer, blend until the sauce is a coarse puree. Stir in the basil, chives and parsley.
• For the vodka batter:.
• Mix 1 cup/250 ml flour with the baking powder in a large bowl. Add the club soda and vodka and stir until smooth.
• Heat the canola oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• Dredge the stuffed zucchini blossoms in the remaining 1/2 cup/125ml flour, then coat with the batter. Fry until golden. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the fried blossoms hot with the marinara sauce.
• Cook's Note:.
• If you don't have zucchini blossoms, you can stuff mini bell peppers, tomatoes or mushrooms.

Steps:

• Prepare the zucchini blossoms for stuffing by gently opening the leaves and pinching out the stamen inside each flower. Set the blossoms aside.
• For the filling, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, basil, lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Transfer to a sandwich-size resealable plastic bag and snip a small corner from one point at the bottom.
• Open the leaves of a blossom and pipe in about 1 tablespoon of filling (don't overfill). Gently twist the top of the blossom to enclose the filling. Repeat with the remaining zucchini blossoms and filling.
• Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet and heat to 360 degrees F. (If you don't have an oil thermometer, you'll know the oil is ready if you drop in a scrap of bread and it sizzles on contact and begins to brown after a few seconds.) Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• For the batter, whisk the flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in the seltzer to make a smooth batter.
• When the oil is ready, dip the zucchini flowers in the batter one at a time, letting excess batter drip back into the bowl. Add as many as will fit in the skillet without crowding. Fry, turning once, until the batter is light, crisp and golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon to the lined baking sheet to drain and repeat with the remaining blossoms.
• Serve warm with marinara for dipping.

Steps:

• Make the batter. Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the water gradually, beating constantly until the mixture is smooth. Beat in the oil and salt (this can all be done in a food processor).
• Beat the egg white until thick and set aside.
• Cut the mozzarella into small pieces. Season with pepper.
• Stuff the flowers with cheese and a little anchovy, folding over the petals to enclose it.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet.
• Beat the batter, fold in the egg white and dip each flower into it, scraping off the excess on the side of the bowl. Put the flowers a few at a time into the hot oil and cook, turning once, until they are golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot.