Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Wednesday 12 July 2017

This July 7, 2016 photo shows stuffed zucchini blossoms in New York. This dish is from a recipe by Sara Moulton.
(Sara Moulton via AP)
Zucchini Flowers are Delicate, Yet Perfect for Stuffing

SARA MOULTON the temperature of the oil neither drops nor or pistil (on a female plant). Using small sharp
Associated Press bubbles over the top. If the temperature begins scissors cut out as much of the stamen or pistil
Zucchini flowers are perfect for stuffing. In the to creep up, pull the pan off the flame and/or as possible to make room for the cheese. Put
following recipe, the flowers are filled with add a little cool oil. Transfer each batch of fried about 1 teaspoon of the Parmigiano-Reggiano
cheese before frying. The result is a creamy, blossoms to a paper towel-lined sheet pan, in the cavity; top with a chunk of mozzarella.
flavorful filling and a supercrisp crust. For years, sprinkle lightly with salt and keep warm in the Twist the petals gently to enclose the filling; set
my go-to deep-frying batter has been made of oven while you fry the rest. aside the stuffed blossoms. In a medium bowl
roughly equal parts beer and flour. But I wanted combine the flour, cornstarch, soda and salt. In
the batter for this dish to be crisper, more like CHEESE STUFFED a large, deep saucepan heat 1½ to 2 inches of
tempura, so I added seltzer and baking soda ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS oil over medium high heat to 365 F. When the
and swapped out half of the flour for corn- Start to finish: 30 minutes oil is at around 325 F, combine the dry ingredi-
starch. Unlike flour, cornstarch has no gluten, Servings: 4 ents in the bowl with the beer and the seltzer;
which ensures a thinner, more delicate coating stir the mixture until it is combined well but with
that nonetheless holds its shape. 12 squash blossoms a few lumps remaining. Working with three or
You’ll want to mix the batter just before using 1/2 ounce coarsely grated Parmigiano-Reggia- four blossoms at a time, dip them in the batter,
it to prevent the bubbles from evaporating. no coating them well and letting the excess drip
Combine the dry ingredients and park them on 1 ounce mozzarella, cut into 12 cubes off. Add them gently to the 365 F oil; let cook
the counter while you prep the blossoms and 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (2 for 30 seconds. Using tongs, gently turn them
begin to heat the oil. When the oil is almost up 3/8 ounces) over. Cook until they are golden, about 1 to 1½
to temperature, add the liquid ingredients to 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch minutes, turning them once again. Transfer the
the dry ingredients and mix the batter quickly. 1 teaspoon baking soda blossoms to the rimmed sheet pan using a slot-
Take care not to rip the petals while stuffing the 1/4 teaspoon salt ted spoon, sprinkle with kosher salt and keep
flower with cheese, then close the open end 1/2 cup ice-cold beer warm in the oven while you batter and fry the
of the flower by twisting the petals like a New 1/2 cup ice-cold seltzer remaining zucchini blossoms. To serve: Spoon
Year’s Eve party popper. The cheese should Vegetable oil for deep frying one-fourth of the marinara sauce into the bot-
stay put and not leak into the oil. Choose a pan 1 cup marinara sauce (homemade or your fa- tom of each of four soup bowls, arrange three
with deep sides and fill it with no more than 1½ vorite store brand), heated fried blossoms on top and garnish with a basil
or 2 inches of oil. Make sure the oil has a high Basil sprigs for garnish sprig. Sara Moulton is host of public television’s
smoke point. Use a deep-fat thermometer to Preheat oven to 200 F. Line a rimmed sheet pan “Sara’s Weeknight Meals.” She was executive
keep track of the temperature and try to main- with a double layer of paper towels. chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years
tain it at a constant 365 F. Depending on the Working with one blossom at a time, carefully and spent a decade hosting several Food Net-
size of your pan, fry no more than three or four separate the petals to expose the inside of the work shows, including “Cooking Live.” Her latest
stuffed blossoms at a time. This will ensure that flower and the central stamen (on a male plant) cookbook is “Home Cooking 101.”q