How to Cook Squash Blossoms

 Oh my, these are incredibly delicious. I'll admit I was a little skeptical to eat a flower at first, but after frying them up and taking one bite, I immediately shoved the rest in my mouth. These are so good! After I picked the blossoms and showed my son's what I was going to cook for a snack, they said ewwww, no mom. Yuk! Of course, after I fried them up they wanted to try them and sure enough they where begging for more.
 These squash blossoms tasted so lovely. When I took a bite I had a pop and burst of cheese in my mouth. Oh yes! Now I will be going back outside to pick some more.


How to tell the difference between a male and female squash flower?
Why, eat the male and leave the female to fruit.


Squash Blossoms

Female squash blossoms usually grow close to the center of the plant. Check the base of the flower where the blossom meets the stem. Female squash blossoms have a small swollen embryonic fruit at their base which will grow into a squash.

Male squash blossoms are showier and they tend to hang out on long stem all over the plant. There are more male blossoms then female, and they show up first so like me you may leave a bunch in the beginning thinking they were female.

The left one, with the mini squash, is the female. The one on the right, with the stem, is the male

Here are some males I picked

It’s easy to tell the difference, the male will always be on a stem and the female will have a mini squash on it and it will be close to the base.


Gathering the male blooms in the middle of the day is the best time to collect your blossoms.
Squash blossoms may be eaten raw or cooked. Harvest of the male blossoms leaves female flowers on the plant to form fruits; be careful not to collect all of the male blooms, as their pollen is required to fertilize the female flowers. The blooms of any variety of summer or winter squash may be eaten along with the stem.
Both female and male blossoms are edible.

Storing blooms in a bowl of ice water in the refrigerator. Use within two days.

Only female blossoms produce fruit. All winter squash and summer squash including: zucchini, yellow, cork neck, butternut, spaghetti, pumpkins and gourd blooms are edible.



How and When to Pick Zucchini
Once your squash reach 6-12 inches they are ready to be pick. Earlier is ok too. Give them a 180 twist and they should pop off. Keeping in mind, the little part of the stem on the top of the squash, if kept on, will help to preserve it. If you twist your squash off and the left over stem breaks off, no worries, it will just wilt sooner so cook them in the next day or two.

How to cook a squash blossom

 Wash by gently opening up the flower and remove any dirt, bugs and the stamen (this is the little pollen in the middle of the flower it is edible but bitter) you can also leave the stems on if you'd like. They are also edible.

Ingredients:

4-6 squash blossoms

Pancake batter of chose (I use one egg to1/4 of almond flour and a pinch of salt)

 Herb goat cheese

Chives

Olive oil


In a small bowl combine the pancake batter or one egg, 1/4 cup of almond flour, and a pinch of salt

In another bowl combine about 6 tbsp of herb goat cheese (you want about 1 tbsp for each blossom) and 1 tbsp of chopped chives. No need to measure just eye ball it. And mix around with a utensil.

Heat a skillet on medium heat (lower then smoke point but high enough to crisp the blossoms) with a generous about of olive oil. I use about 1/4 cup.

Stuff the base of the blossoms with 1 tbsp of the herb goat cheese and give a soft twist to the petals to close off the blossom. Then dip the blossom in your pancake batter and place on your warmed skillet. Once the edges start to brown turn and cook the other side for a few minutes. Make sure your oil is not to hot were it reaches a smoking point because the oil will give off unpleasant flavors.
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