Zucchini Flowers Stuffed with Herby Ricotta and Cheese

zucchini flowers

Stuffed zucchini flowers, my favorite summertime treat, whenever I spot them on a menu they get ordered, but It’s been a while since I’ve actually made them myself.

Living in the midwest they’re not the easiest thing to find unless you grow your own, and then if you’re lucky enough to find some, which is not very often, they bring out such a small amount that if you’re not right there in front of them, they’re gone in an instant!

They’re such a delicacy and everyone who appreciates them grabs them up really fast.

zucchini flowers

I lucked out this time by nicely stalking my produce guy, finding out the exact day and time they would arrive and making sure I got there right before they were put out on display. Again it was such a small quantity that they had but I was able to go home with four nice bundles, so I was a happy girl!

There are so many ways you can eat them, in frittatas, quesadilla’s, pizza’s and pasta’s but my favorite way is stuffing the insides with ricotta, herbs, Parmigiano Reggiano and lemon zest and then frying them up until nicely golden with a very light and crispy batter.

They make the best summertime appetizers especially with a cold glass of Prosecco!

 

zucchini flowers

Preparing them is a little labor of love, they’re delicate and fragile and you have to handle them with care in the cleaning process. Usually they’ll have some dirt on them so you’ll want to remove that and check inside to make sure there’s no insect hiding as well, then rinse them really good. In the center of the blossom is a pistil, you’ll want to pinch it out with your two fingers and remove it as well, it’s hard and not so pleasant to eat, then let them dry on paper towels.

You can keep them wrapped up gently in paper towels if not using right away and keep them refrigerated for just a couple of days, so buy according to how much you’re going to be using.

stuffed zucchini flowers

Then as far as the stuffing process goes I like placing my ricotta mixture into a pastry bag, it’s a much cleaner and neater way to fill them rather than using a spoon,  and it goes really fast.

I like leaving some of the stem on to use as a handle for ease in frying and for eating.

batter ingredients

The batter couldn’t be easier to make, just two ingredients, sparkling water and flour, I’m partial to San Pellegrino but any plain sparkling water will do.

Just whisk the two together until you get a loose yogurt consistency, not too thick and not too thin.

zucchini flowers

The result is a light and crispy tempura like coating, so airy that it doesn’t overpower the zucchini flower at all, it just enhances it as well as the ricotta stuffing.

stuffed zucchini flowersstuffed zucchini flowers

It has just the right crunch factor!

zucchini flowers

Crunchy, creamy, dreamy! Hands down my favorite summertime treat especially when it’s swiped into some warm marinara.

Go seek some out before they’re gone and gobble these up!

You can follow Proud Italian Cook on Instagram to see what I’m cooking up during the week.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Zucchini Flowers Stuffed with Herby Ricotta and Cheese
 
Depending on how many zucchini flowers you have just mix up more or less ricotta mixture, also some bulbs are bigger than others so I will just give you a step by step procedure instead of exact measurements.
Author:
Ingredients
  • Zucchini flowers, leave about 2 inches of stem on, cleaned of dirt and inner pistil
  • FILLING
  • ricotta, ( remove moisture)
  • grated Parmigiano Reggiano (or pecorino)
  • granulated garlic
  • chopped basil and parsley
  • lemon zest
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 disposable pastry bag
  • BATTER
  • seltzer water
  • all purpose flour
  • oil for pan frying
  • Optional, marinara for dipping
Instructions
  1. Make sure the cleaning prep is done on the zucchini flowers with all the pistils removed inside.
  2. Mix up your stuffing mixture in a bowl and this is all done to taste, start with a cup of ricotta and add in maybe ¼ cup of cheese, a couple of tablespoons of herbs, zest of ½ lemon and everything else, adjust to your liking.
  3. Place a disposable pastry bag into a tall glass, fold down sides and fill it with the ricotta mixture, the glass will hold the bag and give you stability as you spoon the filling in.
  4. Cut the tip of the bag off and proceed to fill the cavity of the flowers.
  5. When they're all filled up mix up your batter.
  6. Grab a shallow bowl add a few generous tablespoons of flour and start adding the seltzer water , consistency should be loose yogurt.
  7. Heat your oil in a fry pan, just enough to cover bottom, then swipe your stuffed flower into the batter on both sides and fry until golden on both sides.
  8. NOTE: If you need more ricotta mixture make it, if you need more batter, mix up a little more, depending on how many flowers you have and the size of them.
  9. Place on paper towels to drain. and serve immediately.
  10. Warm up some marinara for swiping!

 

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Summer Bounty Zucchini Tart

Delicate zucchini blossoms and thin ribbons of squash pressed into cheesey flavored ricotta highlight this summer bounty tart and it’s nothing short of perfection!Zucchini blossoms need to be showcased and this is the perfect canvas.
Thanks to convenient store bought puff pastry, it makes everything look so elegant when laid upon it and it tastes out of this world.
Crunchy, flaky, buttery!
Even if it sticks together because you might have left it out of the fridge too long and you couldn’t unfold it like you wanted to, ( cough cough),  it still looks pretty and no one would even have a clue that you had a problem.Here’s how you make it.

RICOTTA MIXTURE
In a bowl mix 2 heaping cups of drained ricotta
1 egg
fresh snipped basil
3 different shredded cheeses, I used romano, mozzarella and an aged chedder. At least 1/4 cup each or even more to taste. My advice, taste mixture before you add the egg.
Salt and pepper
TOPPING
In a saute pan with olive oil and 1 clove of crushed garlic, saute ribbons of zucchini, yellow squash and your zucchini blossoms for a quick minute or two until slightly wilted.
PUFF PASTRY
Line a baking sheet with parchment and unfold your cold puff pastry sheet right on to it. Lightly roll it till seams are flat and sheet looks even all around. Take a pairing knife and make a 1/2 inch border all the way around being careful not to cut through. Take a fork and prick the pastry all within the border so air can get through.
Just spread the ricotta mixture, (you’ll have extra to do another one) within the border and then lay your sauteed squash on top and dot with a few cherry tomatoes and a little drizzle of olive oil.
I like to brush my edges with olive oil and a sprinkling of romano cheese.
Cook in a 350 degree oven until edges are dark golden and crispy and so is the bottom, at least 1/2 hour could be more. Ovens vary so just check it.
ENJOY!
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