Short-Season Treat: Squash Blossoms

Enlarge Image Image Gallery You can find squash blossoms at farmers markets and specialty grocers, but act fast! If you’re growing squash at home, you won’t compromise your harvest by plucking some of these beauties. PHOTO: FOTOLIA

Squash plants produce pretty yellow blossoms. Some of these will be pollinated, which means fat, little squash babies will soon emerge from the blossom’s base. These are female zucchini blossoms. But the other blossoms — those long, gorgeous male blooms — won’t produce a fruit, and may as well be enjoyed by you! You can find squash blossoms at farmers markets and specialty grocers, but act fast! If you’re growing squash at home, you won’t compromise your harvest by plucking some of these beauties. (Careful when picking — bees love them, too.)

Squash blossoms are absolutely scrumptious sautéed in butter or baked stuffed with breadcrumbs, herbs and cheese. You can also chop them up to add to fresh green salads. To use squash blossoms, first trim the stem to half an inch, remove the slender stamens within, rinse in cool water and pat dry.

Squash Blossom Tempura Recipe

Steering clear of fried foods is generally wise, but squash blossoms are such a rare delight that you should feel free to fry them to your heart’s content! This classic tempura batter is super-light and super-special, just like the pretty blossoms within. If you want a more decadent dish, fill the blossoms with herbed goat cheese before dipping them in the batter.

Ingredients: 

10 squash blossoms
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp kosher salt
2 twists freshly ground pepper
1 to 2 tsp (or more!) hot Sichuan or cayenne pepper, ground
Enough vegetable oil to fill frying pan to about 3 inches 

For tempura batter:

1 large egg, chilled
3/4 cup ice water in a medium bowl
1 cup plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, sifted and chilled 

For dipping sauce:

1 tsp kombu seaweed
2 cups water
1/2 ounce bonito flakes
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup mirin
1 tbsp ginger, grated