Tempura Stuffed Zucchini Flowers 

(Serves 4-6 people)

Ingredients:

• 12 zucchini flowers, rinsed well, stamens and pistils removed
• 3-4 cups of frying oil
• 1 cast iron skillet, or a deep heavy gauged pot for frying

Cheese filling:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup grated mild provolone
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon of lemon zest, grated
• 4 -6 basil leaves, chiffonade
• 5-7 Italian parsley leaves, chiffonade
• 4-5 thin slices of prosciutto (optional)
• 4-5 anchovy fillets, finely minced with a fork
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Tempura batter

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup (ice-cold) seltzer water, club soda, or sparkling water 
• 1 egg
• pinch of salt

Procedure:

• Sift the flour, cornstarch and salt together into a bowl.
• Whisk in the ice-cold seltzer water, club soda, or sparkling water
• Add the egg and salt and whisk well to ensure that the egg is totally incorporated.
• Wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to use. 

Tip: It is best to work with the batter cold. If you are frying large batches or working in a very warm kitchen place the batter over a bowl of ice water. This is a great trick especially when frying up large batches or cooking them outside in the summer heat. 

Working with the zucchini flowers

The zucchini flowers are very delicate, so when picking them and storing them for use be very gentle.  The perfect time to pick them is early morning, before the strong sun comes out.  

Early morning (when most of the flowers are open) is the best time to pick them.

The reason for this is that, during this time, most of the flowers will be open making it much easier to clean and fill.  Personally, if I pick a batch in the early morning, I immediately clean and stuff them.  Waiting can result in the flowers closing which defeats the whole purpose of picking them early in the morning to catch the open ones.

To Make: Stuffed Zucchini Flowers 

Step 1: Cleaning the flowers

• Carefully rinse off the zucchini flowers under cold, gently-running water. Be sure to get all bits of dirt and any insects off the flowers.
• If the flowers are already open, gently rinse the inside with water too.  
• Trim off any prickly parts at the base of the flower.

Trim the end part of of the flowers.

• If the flowers are closed, carefully tear one side of the flower open, using a scissor, or very carefully open it with your fingers and carefully remove the stamens and/or pistils

Using a scissor carefully clip the stamen or pistil

• Pat them dry, and then leave them to dry further on a kitchen towel.

Step 2: Preparing the filling

Ingredients for the stuffing.

• In a medium-sized mixing bowl add the ricotta, provolone, egg, basil, parsley, prosciutto, anchovies and lemon zest.  Mix all well.

The mixed stuffing

• Adjust the seasoning with the salt and pepper.
• If not stuffing immediately, you can wrap the bowl and reserve in the refrigerator.

Tip: Keep in mind that the provolone and the anchovies will add some saltiness, so always add salt after they’ve been added.

Tip: Sometimes I make the stuffing a day or two prior to buying or picking my zucchini flowers. This way, once you have the flowers, you’ll have one less step to prepare, and you’ll be closer to enjoying them!

Step 3: Stuffing the zucchini flowers

• Carefully open the flowers and add generous teaspoon or so of filling. Fill them only about half way up from the bottom.

Carefully stuff the zucchini flowers.

Tip: Another reminder. These flowers are very delicate so handle them with care while you’re filling them.

• Once they are filled, very carefully twist the top of the flower to seal the filling in.

Very carefully twist the top of the flower closed.

• Repeat with the remaining flowers.
• Refrigerate the flowers for 10-15 minutes, to set the filling.
• This will make them much easier to work with when dipping them in the batter and frying them.

Tip: Once they are stuffed and twisted closed, place them in a container large enough to hold them side by side in a single layer. Do not place them on top of the other, they may break or loose their beautiful stuffed shapes. Then, place a very lightly dampened kitchen towel over them and cover all with plastic wrap or a tight fitting lid.  Now, the hard part is done. Simply store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready for frying.

Step 4: Frying the zucchini flowers

• Heat the oil to 350°
• Add the frying oil to a cast iron skillet or heavy-gauged pot.

Tip:  You can test the oil to see if  it’s up to temperature by dropping in a crouton-sized piece of bread or potato.  If it colors up quite quickly to a golden brown, the oil should be fine for frying the zucchini flowers.

• Remove the batter from the refrigerator just before frying.
• Whisk it to make sure it is homogeneous.

The tempura batter should lightly coat the flowers.

Tip: Don’t worry if the batter looks too thin; it is supposed to be. This kind of batter crisps up beautifully, allowing the shape and beautiful colors of the flowers to shine through.

• Work with the flowers carefully to make sure filling doesn’t fall out as you dip them

Dip all in the tempura batter.

• Add your battered flowers to the hot oil in small batches. I suggest cooking no more than 3 at a time.
• You want to do this in a controllable way so the flowers come out crisp and beautiful.

Tip: As they are frying up, you can drizzle a little additional tempura batter over any areas that you feel need a little more. I suggest doing this within the first few seconds of frying them.

A tempura chef friend of mine showed me this trick years ago while working on a cruise ship.

• Scoop out any loose fried bits of batter floating in the oil as you move along.
• Cook the flowers for about 2 minutes on each side until crisp and light golden brown.
• Remove one at a time.

Tempura Stuffed Zucchini Flowers.

• Place them on a tray lined with absorbent paper.

Fried zucchini flowers

• Sprinkle them with a little salt while still hot.

Fried zucchini flower.

• Repeat with all flowers.
• Serve immediately

These are absolutely delicious and make the perfect summertime treat. Enjoy!

The one on right has prosciutto. The one on the left does not. Both are outrageously delicious!