Squash Blossom Batter Recipes

FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Divide mozzarella into 12 equal pieces. Carefully open 1 blossom, and insert 1 anchovy half and 1 mozzarella piece. Twist shut; transfer to a plate, and cover with a damp towel. Repeat with remaining blossoms, anchovies, and mozzarella.
• Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Whisk in sparkling water. (Batter will be thick; add more water if needed for a pancake-batter-like consistency.) Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably cast-iron) until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 350 to 360 degrees. Dip blossoms into batter. Working in batches, fry blossoms, rolling in oil to coat, until lightly browned and crisp, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper-towel-lined plates; season with salt.

BATTER FRIED STUFFED SQUASH BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Place ricotta cheese in a double layer of cheesecloth. Tie up ends, and hang over a bowl to drain. Place in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours, or overnight.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and pepper. Slowly add milk to the flour mixture, whisking constantly, until the batter has a slightly thickened and very smooth consistency; set aside.
• Remove ricotta from the cheesecloth, and discard the liquid. In another medium bowl, stir together drained ricotta, mozzarella, marjoram, and parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Gently open the flower petals and, using a small spoon, fill a blossom about 2/3 full with the ricotta mixture. Wrap the petals around the mixture to seal. Using your fingers, gently press the blossom to distribute filling evenly. Repeat, filling all the blossoms.
• In a small saucepan fitted with a deep-frying thermometer, heat olive oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees. Place the stuffed blossoms in the reserved batter until completely coated. Lift out, and gently drag the blossom against the edge of the bowl to remove excess batter. Carefully slip as many blossoms into the hot oil as will comfortably fit without crowding. Fry the blossoms until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon, and transfer to several layers of paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt, and serve immediately.

FRIED STUFFED SQUASH BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice-cold water. Drop squash blossoms into the boiling water until slightly wilted, 30 to 45 seconds; transfer immediately into the cold water to chill. Remove to paper towels to drain.
• Mix goat cheese, egg yolk, Gruyere cheese, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl; stir until smooth. Spoon filling into a heavy, resealable 1-quart plastic bag, squeeze out the air, and seal the bag. Cut a small corner off the bag.
• Gently insert the cut corner of the bag all the way to the bottom of the open end of a blossom and pipe about 1 tablespoon of filling inside. Pick up petals and drape them up over the filling, covering filling completely. Fold any excess petals over the top of the filled blossom to keep them out of the way. Refrigerate filled squash blossoms until cheese is set and firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Combine self-rising flour and cornstarch in a mixing bowl; whisk in ice-cold water, a little at a time, until batter is smooth and has the thickness of pancake batter.
• Pour vegetable oil to a depth of 1 inch into a heavy skillet (such as a cast iron pan) and place over medium heat. Heat oil until a thermometer placed into the oil, not touching the bottom, reads 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). A drop of batter carefully dripped into the oil should sizzle immediately.
• Remove squash blossoms from refrigerator and dust lightly with all-purpose flour on all sides. Shake off excess flour and dip blossoms in batter. Let excess batter drip off.
• Gently lay coated squash blossoms in the hot oil on their sides; cook about 6 at a time until pale golden brown, 1 minute on the first side and 30 seconds to 1 minute on the remaining sides. Let cool slightly before serving.

BATTER FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Blend milk, egg, flour, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper with a fork; beat the batter until smooth.
• Place flattened squash blossoms in batter, stir gently; allow 10 minute soaking time.
• Heat oil in a cast iron skillet until hot; fry batter coated blossoms until golden; turn once, drain on paper towels, place on plate and garnish.

FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Use your fingers to carefully dig a hole on the side of the zucchini flower, opening it enough to dig out with you pointer the pollen stem that is inside. Gently rinse the flowers under a sprinkle of cold water, paying attention not to damage the thin petals, then lay on a rag and pat dry.
• Fill a piping bag with the ricotta cheese and pipe 2 to 3 tablespoons of the ricotta into each flower. Twist the petals to close tightly so the cheese doesn't escape during frying.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, parsley, a couple of generous pinches of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Slowly start pouring the beer into the mix, using a whisk or a fork to make the batter; mix to eliminate any lumps.
• Add the vegetable oil to the bottom of a heavy skillet until it comes up the sides 2 inches, making sure the oil is not more than halfway up the sides. Heat the vegetable oil until hot.
• Dip the filled flowers through the batter then carefully add to the hot oil. Fry, flipping halfway through frying, until the blossoms are golden and crisp, 2 minutes.
• Remove and place on a large dish lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt to taste while still hot.

FRIED SQUASH BLOSSOMS SNACK

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, garlic salt and cumin. In another bowl, beat egg, milk and oil; add to dry ingredients and stir until smooth. In a skillet, heat 2 in. of oil to 375°. Dip blossoms into batter and fry in oil a few at a time until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm until serving.

SQUASH-BLOSSOM FRITTERS

Steps:

• Make the batter: Stir, using a whisk, 1 cup flour, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg and the beer together in a small bowl. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture, stirring constantly with a fork, until almost combined. The batter will be slightly lumpy. Let stand for 30 minutes.
• Fill and fry the blossoms: Heat oil in a 4-quart Dutch oven fitted with a deep-fat thermometer over medium-high heat to 375°F Gently open the petals of the blossoms using a paring knife and carefully remove the pistils without tearing the petals. Combine the remaining flour and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl, add the cheese, and toss until the cubes are coated. Place one cube inside each blossom and twist the ends to close. Dip blossoms, holding them at the petal end, one at a time into batter. Wipe excess batter from blossom against the side of the bowl.
• Carefully ease 3 blossoms into hot oil and fry, turning once with a slotted spoon until golden brown - about 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining blossoms. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.