Zuchinni Blossoms Tempura w/ Aromatic Vegetables & Ricotta
Big Bossman was quite chatty and pleasant today, he even brought some beautiful zuchinni blossoms from his garden in the Hamptons. Too bad such nice behavior is considered extremely suspect in the private chef world. A boss too friendly should give you the willies. That’s the rule. Exactly 18 seconds later he asked if i could come out and work in the Hamptons for July 4th week-end. Crap… I knew it!!
You see, i don’t usually do week-ends. Call me a spoiled brat but there’s a week-end chef at Big Bossman’s… except for THAT week-end. The busiest week-end of the year. Oh well! That should produce good content for this blog and as you already know, i’m all about self-sacrifice.
Big Bossman left the kitchen with a smile on his face, victorious as always. I, defeated, went to inspect the zuchinni flowers, and as i looked closer i was in shock. A bug menage a trois was indulging in decadent hedonism in broad daylight AND right in front of me!.. Pigs!!.. I mean Bugs!! Now, i don’t watch much television but i must say – this was much more entertaining than any sitcom on TV, at least to me. I guess my opinion doesn’t really count since a rubber band and a paper clip could keep me entertained for hours.
[Food porn alert! Sensitive subjects should close their eyes and scroll down. No peeking!]
Hmm.. Of course i won’t!
Let’s do a little poll just for fun. If you were to find some charming little bugs copulating on your food, what would YOU do?
- Vomit in disgust and throw everything in the garbage.
- Gently push the lovebugs aside and cover them with some lettuce for privacy.
- Smash the little bastard and proclaim yourself the ruler of the cutting board Kingdom.
- Cook ‘em up. You can use the extra protein.
I opted for the second answer but i must admit i contemplated serving Big Bossman some extra protein with dinner… How could he ask me to work in the Hamptons for July 4th week-end!!? Arrghhh…
You won’t believe how delicious this is. The stuffing is made by quickly sauteeing some chopped vegetables in olive oil with garlic and thyme to al dente. You let the mixture cool and fold it into some fresh ricotta, season with salt and pepper, et voila. Clean the blossoms with a dry brush, remove the pistils and spoon the ricotta mixture inside. Dip the stuffed flowers in tempura batter and deep-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. A sprinkle of salt and you’re in heaven.
Zuchinni Blossoms Tempura w/ Aromatic Vegetables & Ricotta
(serve 4)
For the stuffing:
- 8 zuchinni flowers,cleaned
- 8 ounces fresh ricotta
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 zuchinni, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1 or 2 sprigs of marjoram or thyme
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper
For the tempura batter (note: tempura mix can also be purchased at the supermarket. It works very well.)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup ice water
- 1 cup all purpose flour
-
1 quart of canola oil for frying
- Beat an egg in a bowl. Add ice water to the bowl (be sure to use very cold water) Add sifted flour and mix lightly. Do not to overmix the batter. Heat the oil to about 375′F in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Quickly sautee the chopped vegetables in the olive oil until cooked but still al dente. Add the garlic and the marjoram or thyme and sautee for 30 seconds longer. Set aside to cool. Fold into the fresh ricotta and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Stuff the zuchinni blossoms with the ricotta mixture and close the petals around the stuffing (See pictures).
- Dip the blossoms into the tempura batter and deep-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve immediately.
Tags: Appetizer, Vegetarian
June 20th, 2008 at 1:52 am
Oh! Is that a charming bug I see there, fried in mid-cavorting? Kidding! It looks very good indeed, Zen-man; I love the melty cross section. (You see, I’ve never had stuffed zucchini flowers before. Shame as the zucchini farmers here probably throw them away thinking that no one is interested!)
I would opt for choice #3. I’m just sadistic that way. Hahaha!
June 20th, 2008 at 1:53 am
By the way, if I did encounter instead of charming little bugs, coprophages such as cockroaches, I would’ve trashed everything and taken a good long bath. Ewwww!
June 20th, 2008 at 2:09 am
C’est comme les limaces dans les salades du marché. Moi ça me ravit (ah oui, il en faut peu), je vais les relâcher dans la nature, comme les ours des Pyrénées. At a managable scale
June 20th, 2008 at 4:42 am
mort de rire, comme d’hab quand je viens chez toi!
June 20th, 2008 at 5:38 am
HAHA! Zen man i’d feed them to the big boss man if I were you
T’es genial! Totally what I was craving… can you fed ex me some? pleeeeeaaaase!!!!
June 20th, 2008 at 7:32 am
i was planning to do some tempura with zuccini flowers to last week.;but they were so expensive..i guess i will just have to settle savoring yours on screen..yummy!!
June 20th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I’d macerate the little creatures in cognac and make “drunken love bugs.” Bossman will love them!
Oh, garnish with ginger and scallion.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Mere perfection as usual, dear Zen. Mere perfection.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:13 am
haha!!!! Love the picture of porn! I would do #3…there is some good food to be eaten…you can not let bugs get in the way!
June 20th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Zenman, you kill me. That bug porn pic made me laugh loud enough to wake the neighbours. Personally I’d have flicked them out of the window and carried on (if I were in a good mood I’d have let ‘em finish first!)
As for the dish… awesome, as always. Looks, and sounds, delicious. Bummer about July 4th, though. I hope bossman is paying you extra!
June 20th, 2008 at 9:01 am
#3!! hahaha. I’ve got to be Supreme Ruler of something, you know.
So sorry about your weekend! Totally sucks!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I see these at the farmer’s market a lot, but never had a recipe that I thought was worth trying. BUT now I can’t wait to see them again…looks fantastic!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Those are some big blossoms. Im groaning at the the delish site, not the horny bugs.
June 20th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Bravo…it’s Zengnifique! I prefer the tempura type batter, nice & crisp and contrasted with your creamy ricotta here.
June 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Those bugs have me totally in the mood. Sex on top of a bed of vegetables is so kinky.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I think you’ve just ruined my future zuchinni blossoms eating experiences…
June 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Can I just say zuchinni flowers alone freak the shit outta me? Is it part of an elborate arrangememt for a boutique hotel lobby centerpiece or something that begs to be dipped in tempura batter and fried within an inch of its life?
And for the record, the bugs would look better on the hotel centerpiece. We expect big bugs in Manhattan.
June 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
this is so awesoome! OMG! You are such a Teaser! lol! Even blossoms can be reinvented . . . sure my girlfriends will be very envy of this! lol!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
the zucchini blossoms look seductively appetising…leave the lovebugs alone will ya?
June 21st, 2008 at 8:23 am
I ‘ve learnt a lot from you and these are simply gorgeous,i would not have thought of turning it into a tempura , you exploited your ingredients well, apart from the added protein that should be included in the dish
June 21st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
gosh..what a creative idea to mix all the veggies and herbs
.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:06 pm
wow! that’s all there is to say.
btw, I have a degree in psychology and am willing to provide free therapy
June 21st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Wow, it sounds and looks delicious!
I have never tried zucchini’s blossom yet, I’m going to look for it on the market tomorrow!!!
Thank you for sharing this, Margot
p.s. I love those bugs, they are sooo funny!
June 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I’ve planted up extra zucchini plants just for those flowers. Soon, very soon they’ll be on my plate…..
without bugs thank you, gagging
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 am
For your poll, you forgot choice #5: Take a pic with your macro lens and post it on your blog!
I’d choose #5 of course! har har!
Stuffed zucchini flowers are so delicate and decadent. They look great! That being said, I hear the extra protein from the bugs would lower your carbon foot-print! A famous Indian restaurant in Vancouver, called Vij’s, is now serving bugs to their patrons intentionally! It’s on the menu!
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:43 am
I’d pick 3…that makes me mean, I guess. I hate bugs.
I have GOT to try this! The tempura sounds so easy. I always thought it was more complicated.
You mustn’t work on July 4th! It’s my birthday! It’s a national day of rest.
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 am
Well, as my mother would have said about the bugs, that’s how you know it’s fresh! Fried zucchini blossoms are a great treat — hope your Bossman appreciated them.
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 am
Ya know I’ve never thought of cooking zuchinni flowers… very interesting. Dude you have to work at the Hamptons on the 4th? It’s going to be a zoo there… on the plus side maybe you’ll make good tips or something.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
EVERY TIME i buy zucchini blossoms the same thing happens! AND they’re the same freaking bug! I usually just shake them out outside. To me it shows freshness! Hey, I’ being optimistic here. Fried zucchini blossoms are one of my favorites. they can be a pain to stuff, but use something to pipe it in and it’s a sinch! looks great, bugs or no bugs.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
I love zuchinni blossoms I made them by the ton last year and cant wait to make them again…I will try your stuffing.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
You crack me up. I think they’re teenagers so we can cut them some slack. Its easy to make mistakes when you’re that age, don’t ya think?
I just had a mountain of dumplings and I’m getting hungry again looking at these zucchini masterpieces. *slurp
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I would do # 3, Hi Ya!! But Todd would probably do #2 or even #4, depending on his mood for the day!
Those look so awesome! So perfectly fried and melting with cheese! Wow, Big Bossman grows his own stuff? Pretty cool.
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Those look good. I have been wanting to try zucchini flowers for a while now. I will have to keep an eye out for them.
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
if i thought for one moment that i could manage to tempura fry ANYTHING, i might try this.
they look absolutely amazing. and i mean perfect.
you damn chefs…
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 am
damn it stephan, u should’ve fed him the bugs ! the tempura looks so delectable that even if u went out of your way to get a few more gross,ugly, slimy n squishy bugs, and stuffed them in there he would’ve never know n relished it ! dumbo !
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:59 am
First I thought “dish them up Chef!” and then I thought about how “lively” you made them and I opted for letting them continue their debauchery
I can never find zucchini flowers here…I really need to pay you a visit and possibly on the 4th!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
Good Gods, Zenman, this is flippen amazing!!!! I have never seen zucchini flowers that fresh either -around here they’ve been on the shelve s for a week by the time I get there.
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 am
I love zuchinni/ squash blossoms! Yea, I tried the fritters a few times already (with mozzarella and anchovies or chopped oysters, though)- but I haven’t seen one as great a this. Btw, what happened to the bugs? Haha. You’re very clever
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 am
I’ve seen these before, but never had the opportunity to try them myself. They look delicious!
Also, rofl@those bugs. Sorry to hear about the 4th though :-/
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
One word: GORGEOUS!
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hahahahahhha,
I was literally laughing for minutes,
Hahah the bugs are…adorable..
And I’m torn between option 2 and 3,
I guess it all depends on my mood of the day when I see bugs in my food,
Live or die!
June 24th, 2008 at 11:08 am
ive never had zucchini blossoms before, and these look SO gorgeous!
June 24th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
you are too funny:) I am still laughing:)
never made tempura, this looks yummy!
June 24th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Absolutely Outstanding!!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:39 am
Aw, face it – you kick the weekend chef’s padunk and that’s why Bossman wanted you to work that weekend!
Nice flowers, you perv.
June 28th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
how can something so pretty not be luscious? Great pix ~ good fotos of just fried flowers looks perfect ~ so delicate.
had something similar @ meza grill couple summers ago + wanted more, but yours looks bettr~
July 14th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Using Tapioca Flour with Ice cold ALKA SELTZER then fold eggs whites in it.
Great Tempera Batter!
Martine