Zucchini Blossoms With Boursin And Fresh Tomato Vinaigrette Recipes

FRIED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat about 1/2 inch oil in a wide, deep pan to 375 F. Use a candy or frying thermometer to measure the temperature. No thermometer? Don't worry there are two other easy ways to make sure the oil is hot enough but not too hot: drop a breadcrumb into the oil, it should bob and sizzle in the oil immediately and brown in a few minutes, not immediately; or, stick the wooden handle of a kitchen spoon in the oil, the oil should bubble up around it immediately and steadily, but not violently or spatter. No immediate sizzle and the oil is too cold, too much sizzle and the oil is too hot.
• If you're making cheese-stuffed zucchini blossoms, use a small spoon to tuck about 1 teaspoon of the cheese in each blossom-work it in between the petals very gently so that the petals stay closed. Again, this step is fully optional and one I usually skip so as to keep the focus on the fresh flavor of the blossoms themselves.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, beat the egg. Beat in the flour and salt to make a thick batter. Whisk in enough of the club soda to make a very thin batter.
• Working with one zucchini blossom at a time, hold each zucchini blossom by its stem and dip it into the batter, moving it as necessary to coat it fully with batter. Lift it out and let excess batter drip off and back into the bowl. Careful place it in the oil and cook, undisturbed, until golden on one side, about 3 minutes. Turn over and cook until golden on the other side, about 2 minutes. Only add as many zucchini blossoms fit in a single layer in the pan without touching so they all have room to cook.
• When the blossoms are done, use a slotted spoon to lift them out of the oil. Quickly drain them on a layer of paper towels, sprinkle with salt, and serve immediately.

ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS STUFFED WITH TOMATOES AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 15x10x2-inch oval baking dish with 1 tablespoon oil. Heat 5 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add breadcrumbs and thyme and stir until breadcrumbs are lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Mix in tomatoes, cheese, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Fill zucchini blossoms with breadcrumb mixture, using about 2 teaspoons for small blossoms and 1 tablespoon for large blossoms (be careful not to tear blossoms). Sprinkle any remaining breadcrumb mixture over baking dish. Place zucchini atop breadcrumbs in dish. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons oil over. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Bake until zucchini are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

ZUCCHINI WITH PUMPKIN BLOSSOM CREAM SAUCE AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Melt butter with olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced onion; cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add pumpkin blossoms and cook until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Transfer contents to a blender, add cream, and blend until smooth. Season with salt and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a clean pan over medium heat. Cook sliced onion and zucchini until soft but not browned or sloppy, about 5 minutes.
• Divide zucchini between 2 dinner plates or pasta bowls and top with pumpkin sauce, fresh tomatoes, and basil.

ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS WITH BOURSIN AND FRESH TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Rinse blossoms and trim a little of the hard stems.
• Spray a broiler-safe plate with cooking spray.
• Fill blossoms with cheese, gently close and pat into shape. Place on broiler-safe plate.
• Brush with olive oil. Broil until cheese melts and blossoms turn crisp, 5-10 minutes.
• Serve with tomato vinaigrette in center and between. Very very pretty.

ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS WITH MIMOSA VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To make the mimosa vinaigrette: In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, add: the mandarin juice, Champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, hot chile flakes, extra-virgin olive oil, wildflower honey, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to emulsify.
• To make the zucchini blossoms: In a big bowl, combine the flour, onion powder, sea salt, honey brown beer, and egg. Whisk until smooth. Heat a 1/4-inch of extra-virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add a few drops of the beer batter to the oil. When the batter starts to sizzle, the oil has reached the appropriate heat for frying, 375 degrees F. Dip the zucchini blossoms in the honey brown beer batter and then delicately fry them for a few seconds, until they are golden on all sides. Remove the zucchini blossoms from the pan with slotted spoons and strain them on a wire rack to remove any excess oil. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce on the side.

GRILLED ZUCCHINI WITH TOMATOES AND MINT

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to high heat and lightly oil grate.
• Cut zucchini into thin lengthwise planks; brush with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. Arrange on grate without crowding.
• Grill until tender and lightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a rimmed plate.
• Stir together tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and mint in a bowl. Smash some of the tomatoes to release their juices. Stir once more and spoon over zucchini.