Market Stuffed Squash Blossoms
Today’s crispy Market Stuffed Squash Blossoms make a fabulous summer snack.
One of my favorite aspects of summer is our local farmer’s markets. I literally get giddy Friday evening thinking of what I might find the next morning.
This week I had the luxury of sneaking out of the house before anyone woke up. Gentle sunlight gleamed down on the white tent tops like a soft kiss. The colorful silhouettes and aromas were a feast for the senses. A perfect mingling of purpose and pleasure.
It’s amazing how you can walk into an almost empty market and 45 minutes later wriggle your way out of a horde of bodies hovering over tables. All are light-hearted and relaxed, no doubt, but still a swarming mass of people. It’s always best to get to the farmers market right before it opens. The first to arrive get the pick of the crop.
A good friend once asked me, “What’s so great about the farmer’s market? It’s just vegetables.”
“Everything!” I emphatically told her.
The produce is picked at dawn on the day of market, so it’s ultra fresh (meaning richer in nutrients and it lasts longer.) Almost everything is organic, and if it’s not, you can ask the grower every detail about their product. Other than veggies, you’ll find fresh local meat and seafood, local dairy and eggs, fruit, homemade baked goods, fresh pasta, soaps, candles, potted plants, homemade blankets and pillows… Many of these items are hard-to-find in stores.
This Saturday, I came home and cooked a marvelous breakfast, then set in on lunch. I found huge squash blossoms for 25 cents each!
The most common preparation for squash blossoms is stuffing them. You can fill squash blossoms with any flavorful concoction you choose, then simply twist the petals together and pan fry them.
I like to dip them first in a thin tempura-like batter, to keep all the filling from working its way out. This week I also found garlic scapes. They sound (and look) odd, but are actually just the stalks of the garlic bulb. Scapes have a milder garlic flavor and can be chopped up like a scallion.
I decided to throw them in the filling, along with local goat cheese, and basil leaves. I served the squash blossoms over a salad of endive-frisee, arugula, and basil leaves, lightly dressed with lemon juice and olive oil.
These Market Stuffed Squash Blossoms were divine.
Squash blossoms are very perishable and usually won’t make it more then 24 hours. If you buy them with a baby squash attached, they last a little longer. Set them in a shallow dish of water, keeping all the petals above the waterline, to keep them open all day. Then cook them either for lunch or dinner of the same day.
Your local farmer’s market is a true culinary adventure, and not to be missed!
Market Stuffed Squash Blossoms
Ingredients
- 10 squash blossoms
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 garlic scapes, chopped (could substitute garlic or scallions)
- 2 tablespoon chopped dried cherries
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup soft goat cheese
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- Salt and pepper
For the Batter:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup seltzer or club soda
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, chopped garlic scapes, and chopped cherries. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the panko and stir for 1-2 minutes until the panko has toasted. Turn the heat off and stir in the goat cheese and basil. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon the filling into the squash blossoms and gently twist the petals together to seal.
- Wipe out the skillet with a damp paper towel. Then pour in enough oil to thoroughly coat the bottom of the skillet. Return the heat to medium-high. Mix the flour, white pepper, curry, and salt in a small bowl. Whisk in the club soda.
- Dip each blossom in the batter. Shake off the drippings and carefully place in the hot oil. Pan-fry for 1-2 minutes per side. I usually turn mine 2-3 times. Remove from the pan the drain on a paper towel. Repeat if needed.
Can’t wait to try these!!! For those that can’t get zucchini flowers, I grow pumpkin plants just for the flowers. Yes the plants grow long but even if you don’t have a garden -put it in a big pot with a trellis. Every morning cut the open flowers off leaving the stem (if you cut off a closed flower make sure there are no bees in there). Rinse gently & put in a ziploc bag partially open with a damp paper towel. Don’t cut stem or stamen out until you are ready to use them. I keep them intact if I’m stuffing/frying but I take them off if I’m just frying them. I do this & they will last for a week! Hope this helps you!
One of my all time favorite appetizers!
What a fun appetizer!
I’ve never eaten squash blossoms before; I actually didn’t know you could eat them! These look delicious though, and I would love to try them.
Wow! I am so happy to see the blossoms. This is one of my fav. I am from India and in our ‘Bengali’ cuisine we too have a similar dish with blossoms of squash or pumpkin or zucchini. Instead of stuffing them, we prepare a spicy thin batter and deep fry the blossom. Amazing snack. I am definitely going to try them as per your recipe and will amaze my mother and mother in law both. ??. Thanks for the inspiration. Happy Cooking!!!