Fresh zucchini blossoms are stuffed with basil ricotta, lightly battered, and fried. These fried zucchini blossoms are one of my favorite summer appetizers!

Fried Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Basil Ricotta

I am so, so excited about today’s post!

You see, every summer I tell myself that I will finally put fried zucchini blossoms on the blog–and it has taken me almost four years to accomplish that goal.

The universe has thwarted my plans every single summer up until now.

Fresh Zucchini Blossoms

Usually my zucchini blossom consumption is reserved for the occasional restaurant meal. Seriously…if I see zucchini blossoms on a menu, you can bet that I will be ordering that dish. I savor every little bite.

As many of you are probably already aware, zucchini blossoms are not the easiest ingredient to get your hands on. They are incredibly delicate, and unless you have a garden full of zucchini at home, you will most likely only find them at your local farmer’s market.

Even that can be tricky at times.

Zucchini Blossom Filling Mixture

Zucchini blossoms also need to be prepared relatively quickly in order to hold up well. If you are lucky enough to find them at the market, they really need to be made that same day. Otherwise, the flowers will wilt and become mushy, and that is never a good thing.

Every single time I’ve picked (or contemplated picking) up a box of them at the farmer’s market, a person standing nearby has politely tapped me on the shoulder and asked what the heck I’m doing with them.

I then go into about a 5-minute saga about my love for them…because I want everyone in the universe to try zucchini blossoms at one point or another, and fall in love themselves.

It happens every time. I can’t help myself.

Fried Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Basil Ricotta

I think a lot of people shy away from zucchini blossoms because they have absolutely no idea what to do with them. It makes perfect sense! I mean, you can only find them every once in a blue moon and they’re flowers.

But the minute you start thinking of them as an extension of a zucchini, it starts to make sense. They actually have a taste very similar to that of a young zucchini–and can be served raw in salads, on top of pizzas, stuffed, and tossed into pasta. You can prepare them in so many ways.

How to Make Fried Zucchini Blossoms

My absolute favorite way to prepare them is to stuff them with a light ricotta mixture and pan-fry them (alternatively, they can also be served raw). For this dish, I decided to flavor the ricotta simply with lemon zest, basil, and salt and pepper. You really want to stick with simple flavors in order not to overpower the blossoms.

I also chose to fry them using a light batter made of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and seltzer water. It coats the zucchini thinly, and the seltzer water and baking powder make it very crisp–similar to tempura batter in many ways. My favorite way to serve them is with lots of lemon wedges!

These were devoured. Enjoy.

Fried Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Basil Ricotta

Fried Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Basil Ricotta

Fried Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Basil Ricotta

4.6 stars (25 ratings)
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Yield: 5 Servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Zucchini blossoms stuffed a basil lemon ricotta and lightly fried! These zucchini blossoms are dipped in a light batter made of all-purpose flour, baking powder, and seltzer water. It coats the zucchini thinly, and the seltzer water and baking powder make it very crisp - similar to tempura batter. Serve with lemon wedges for a delicious summer treat!

Ingredients

Basil Ricotta Filling:

  • ¾ cup whole fat ricotta cheese
  • 2½ tablespoons finely grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
  • ¾ teaspoon fresh lemon zest
  • 8-10 large basil leaves chiffonade
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 15-18 fresh zucchini blossoms

Batter:

  • ½ cup (60 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup (120 mL) seltzer or soda water
  • neutral oil for frying

Serving:

  • lemon wedges for serving

Instructions 

  • Prepare the Filling: In a bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and basil. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Using a pastry bag, fitted with a small round tip, pipe roughly 1 to 1½ teaspoons of ricotta mixture into the center of each zucchini blossom. The blossoms should be able to close on their own - do not overfill or the mixture will spill during frying.
  • Prepare the Batter: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Slowly pour in the seltzer water, and whisk until combined. It should bubble and eventually become the consistency of a thin yogurt. Season mixture with salt. Set aside.
  • Fry the Zucchini Blossoms: Add oil to a large straight-sided sauté pan until it is roughly 2-inches deep. Place over medium-high heat until the temperature reaches 375°F (190°C). Line a plate with paper towels and set aside.
  • Dip a few stuffed zucchini blossoms into the batter, allowing any excess batter to fall. Fry the blossoms (4 to 5 at a time; do not overcrowd the pan), flipping as needed, until golden brown on all sides. They should bubble aggressively once they hit the hot oil.
  • Lift the fried blossoms with a slotted spoon or spide, and place on the paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle with salt immediately. Repeat until all of the zucchini blossoms have been fried. Serve hot with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Tips for Success:

  • Zucchini blossoms are almost exclusively found from a local farm or farmer's market. Since they are delicate and wilt very quickly, I recommend preparing them soon after you purchase them. 
  • For more tips on storing, buying, or using zucchini blossoms, read this article.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 255kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 326mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 14g
Author: Laura / A Beautiful Plate
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Italian