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Tomato Basil Garlic Sauce - Stuffed Squash Blossom

Servings

3 to 4

Difficulty

Beginner

Total Time

1 Hour

Prep Time

Prep: 15 Minutes, Refrigeration: 30 mins

Cook Time

15 Minutes

Meal Type

Dinner

Dish

Appetizer or Entrée

Protein

Vegetarian

Products Used In This Recipe

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About This Recipe

One of the treats that comes from our gardens and shows up at local farmers' markets in the spring and early summer are Squash Blossoms. If you have not tried them they are delicious. Eat them as soon as possible while they are fresh, they don't last long. Especially when they are prepared using this recipe!

Tomato Basil Garlic Sauce - Stuffed Squash Blossom
Ingredients

2/3 to 1 Cup TVF Tomato Basil Garlic Sauce for plating

12 fresh zucchini blossoms, (male - remove stamens, female - keep fruit attached

¾ cup soft goat cheese or ricotta cheese at room temperature

1 egg yolk

¼ cup shredded cheese  Use shredded Gruyere, Cheddar, Manchego, or any other firm cheese in the filling.

1 pinch TVF Lavender Pepper

1 pinch cayenne pepper

Batter:

1 cup self-rising flour

½ cup cornstarch

¼ cup ice-cold water, or as needed

Vegetable oil for frying

1 teaspoon all-purpose flour, or as needed

Preparation

Directions:

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, TVF Lavender 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.


Heat TVF Tomato Basil Ggarlic Sauce in small pan on stove top.  Keep warm for plating.


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.Gently lay coated squash blossoms in the hot oil on their sides; cook about 6 at a time.


To plate:  Pour 1/4 Cup TVF Tomato Basil Garlic Sauce on each plate.  Place squash blossoms on top of sauce.  Add grated firm cheese on top before serving.

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