Fried Zucchini Flowers Recipe

Make the most of every part of your zucchini plant by making these fun, crispy, and shockingly simple fried zucchini flowers.

What Are Zucchini Flowers?

Squash blossoms, as they're also known, are the edible flowers that grow on the zucchini plant. With their vibrant yellow hue and elegant petals, theyre not just delicious but also quite beautiful! The tender, slightly sweet blossoms can be eaten raw or cooked. When fried, they turn wonderfully crispy.

How to Fry Zucchini Flowers

Youll find the full, step-by-step recipe below, but heres a brief overview of what you can expect when you fry zucchini flowers at home:

• Clean and dry the flowers well.
• Make the batter.
• Dip the flowers in the batter, then deep-fry until golden and crispy.
• Drain the fried zucchini flowers on paper towels and season with salt.

Step 1: Clean and Dry the Flowers

Gently wash the zucchini flowers and carefully dry them with a paper towel. Its important that no moisture remains on the flowers before dipping them in the batter.

Step 2: Prepare the Batter

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and olive oil. Gradually stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Heat the Oil

Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Youll want enough oil to submerge the flowers, so make sure the skillet has at least 1 to 2 inches of oil. Once the oil is hot, its time to fry!

Step 4: Dip and Fry the Flowers

Working in batches, dip each flower into the batter, ensuring it is evenly coated. Gently place the batter-covered flowers into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 5 minutes, or until they turn golden brown and crispy. Turn the flowers as needed to ensure they cook evenly on all sides.

Step 5: Drain and Season

Once the flowers are fried to perfection, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Season immediately with a pinch of salt.

Test Kitchen Tips

If you manage to find some fresh squash blossoms this season, Nicole McLaughlin, culinary expert, suggests spreading the petals apart slightly before dipping them in the batter. This will ensure the crispiest texture possible.

For a richer version, you can stuff the zucchini flowers before frying them. Nicole suggests a creamy filling made with ricotta, lemon zest, and Parmesan, but feel free to experiment with your own fillings!

Variations for Zucchini Flowers

If you want to mix things up, try these variations:

• Top the fried flowers with black pepper, basil, garlic, parsley, or even a sprinkle of Parmesan or mozzarella.
• Make a fresh pesto sauce to use as a dipping sauce for the fried flowers.
• Try making a Pasta ai Fiori di Zucca (Pasta with Zucchini Blossoms) for a delicious and summery dish.

Community Tips

"I had just 4 zucchini flowers on my plant, so I halved the recipe and it was perfect!" says Allrecipes community member TCapri. "I just used a small cast iron pan so the oil was deeper and turned them...A fun way to use the flowers."

"Tasted just like my Nonnas," says another community member. "I added two tablespoons of Parmesan cheese to the batter and a sprinkle on top while they're warm."

"Was a great batter recipe! I added chopped chives, thyme, black pepper, and a pinch of paprika to the batter. At the end, I sprinkled Romano cheese on top," says Nanners Ritz.

Ingredients

• 6 zucchini flowers
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• cup milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 quart vegetable oil for frying (or as needed)

Directions

1. Clean zucchini flowers and dry them with a paper towel.
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, and olive oil together. Gradually stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth.
3. Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium heat.
4. Working in batches if needed, dip the flowers into the batter and gently place them into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 5 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
5. Transfer the fried flowers to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt.

From the Editor

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of breading ingredients. The actual amount of breading consumed will vary. Weve calculated the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking, though this may vary depending on cooking time, temperature, and oil type.