Zucchini Flower

About

A zucchini flower is the pale yellow flower of the zucchini plant, from which the vegetable eventually grows. The flowers are often harvested and used in dishes on their own. The flowers are 3 to 4 inches long and generally tubular. This makes them easy to fill with stuffings such as riccota and herbs, or forcemeats of fish or crab. They are then often lightly battered and quickly fried. Unstuffed, they can be sauteed and served as a vegetable side dish. They can also be used as a topping for pizza.

Information

Other names: Zucchini Blossom, courgette flower, summer squash blossom, summer squash flower

Translations: Cukini Flower, Cukinijų Gėlės, Dovlecel flori, Tikvice Flower, Hoa zucchini, Kwiat cukinii, Courgette bloem, तोरी फूल, Abobrinha Flor, Цуккини цветов, Κολοκύθι λουλούδι, كوسة الزهور, 호박 꽃, Cuketa Květina, Pipino Flower, 西葫芦花, Flor del carbassó, Bučke Flower, Cuketa Květina, Zucchini Fiore, קישואים פרח, Zucchini blomma, Тиквице цвет, ズッキーニの花, Courgette fleur, Zucchiniblüten, Flor del calabacín, Цукіні квітів, Kesäkurpitsa Kukka, Тиквички цветя

Physical Description

Orange star-shaped flower of a courgette or zucchini plant.

Colors: Deep yellow to bright orange

Tasting Notes

Flavors: sweet and lightly bitter

Mouthfeel: Delicate, Earthy

Food complements: Mild goat cheese (cherve), Fresh mozzarella, Tomatoes, Eggs, Zucchini, Yellow squash

Wine complements: Vinho verde

Beverage complements: Sparking apple cider

Substitutes: Pumpkin flowers

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: june, july, august

Peak: june, july

Choosing: Look for flowers that are crisp and tight, newly opened, with no wilting on the edges. If the flower has been blossoming for some time, the pollen will help to deteriorate the flower faster. Imagine that you are eating one, a single-bite-size is the best size.

Buying: Look for them at Farmer's markets in the early to mid summer. Some markets are now carrying squash blossoms, often with a tiny zucchini attached.

Procuring: Courgette plants grow in the summer so you'll be picking flowers during summer as well. Harvest flowers early in the morning, when the flowers have only opened slightly and the orange petals are slightly peeking out.

Preparation and Use

They require a small amount of cleaning, and you can open them easily with your fingers to stuff them with a delicate filling of cheese, herbs and some delicate vegetables.

They are usually fried in a light batter and stuffed with ricotta or mozzarella cheese. These make an excellent appetizer or garnish to a main dish.

Cleaning: Don't use much water when cleaning. The flowers are very delicate and don't stand up to much handling. Remove the stamen, which tastes bitter, and shake out the pollen.