Ricotta Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

Ingredients

2 1/2 dozen zucchini blossoms

For the filling:

1- 15 oz cont. ricotta (part skim is ok too)

a couple handfuls of basil, sliced

1/4 cup grated pecorino

salt & pepper

For the batter:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup grated pecorino

1 egg

3/4 cup water

salt and pepper

vegetable or canola oil for frying

Preparation

To prep the blossoms, very carefully remove the stamen (inside the center of the flower) of the flower. They rip easily so be as careful as possible. If it rips slightly don't worry, it will be a little messier in the cooking step but certainly still usable!!!

Mix the ingredients for the filling in a bowl and stir to combine.

Using either a pastry bad with a small tip or a plastic bag with a corner cut off, fill the bag with the filling. Carefully open the flower slightly and squeeze in just enough filling to fill the lower part of the blossom. Once filled twist the top of the blossom to seal it closed. If you overfill them they are more likely to leak out while cooking.

Continue filling the remaining flowers and set aside to mix together the batter.

Before making the batter go ahead and get a large pot ready. Pour in 2-3 inches of oil into the pot and heat over medium high heat. You want the oil to be ready before you start battering the flowers. How to test? Drop a drop of the batter CAREFULLY into the oil.. if it sinks to the bottom its not ready, if it floats to the top and small bubbles form around it then you are ready!

In a bowl stir together all the ingredients for the batter. Holding the stem end of the flower go ahead and coat the flower and carefully place into the oil. Cook for just a couple minutes until lightly golden.

Place the cooked flowers onto a wire rack so you don't lose all the crispness {though I will say I ate one after it sat out for quite a while and had softened and it was still delicious!!!}.

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About

Ah, its that time of year, the time when zucchini blossoms {flowers} start showing up in specialty stores and all the Italians go crazy for them {me included}! My grandmother makes the most wonderful fritelli which is basically the something like a fritter made with chopped up zucchini flowers, flour, egg, grated cheese and parsley. Hers always come out soft and delicious... mine always come out AWFUL!!! Yup, thats right, I can make coq au vin but the fritelli get me every single time! I don't know why I can't get these things right! Most of the time they come out under seasoned and too dense, once in a while they come out okay but not like grandma so we'll leave the fritelli making to her!

So what else can you do with these beauties?? Stuff em! I'm going to tell you right now, these are time consuming to make and a little messy but its so worth it in the end! The warm creamy ricotta filling with the subtle sweetness of the flower, then the light crisp batter... so good!!!