Stuffed zucchini blossoms with feta

Stuffed zucchini blossoms with Feta are a popular Greek summertime dish.Indulge in these perfect summertime appetizers bursting with a creamy Feta cheese filling and refreshing mint.  They are by far the best to a glass of cold ouzo or beer accompaniment!

Preparing the blossoms for your stuffed zucchini blossoms with Feta

Fresh squash blossoms are very delicate to handle and so they require extra care when preparing this dish. Carefully remove the inner pistil as it is not edible. Wash these edible flowers under running water carefully so as to avoid damaging the petals. If the petals are damaged, the flowers will not hold the filling.

Savoury stuffing

The stuffing for my stuffed zucchini blossoms with Feta recipe is very simple and does not require many ingredients. Just mix some Feta cheese, anthotiro, spring onion, mint, sunflower oil and season.

What is Anthotiro or Anthotyro?

Anthotyro is a fresh, soft and creamy cheese similar to mizithra. It has a fairly neutral taste to it. If you cannot get your hands on some, then you can substitute it with either mizithra or the more commonly found ricotta cheese.

What type of feta cheese can I use for my stuffed zucchini blossoms with feta?

The perfect feta cheese to use is made from a combination of goat’s and sheep’s milk. Traditionally feta cheese is made of sheep’s milk, though you can find ones made of sheep’s and goat’s milk as well as cows. Feta from goat’s milk has a tangier and saltier taste compared to the traditional one and is perfect for this recipe!

What can I substitute Feta cheese with?

The recipe is versatile and you can substitute feta cheese with either goat’s cheese or any other hard, salty cheese. Goat’s cheese has a sharp and bold taste that perfectly complements the fried zucchini flowers.

Ricotta cheese is also a good alternative to Feta cheese.

Preparing the stuffed zucchini blossoms with Feta

To prepare these stuffed zucchini blossoms with Feta start by washing the squash blossoms. If they are still attached to a small zucchini, then slice and separate them from it. Open the flowers and remove the inner pistil. Wash the blossoms under running water carefully not to damage the petals. Rest them on absorbent kitchen paper towel for a couple of minutes. Continue by slicing finely the spring onion and mint. In a mixing bowl, combine Feta cheese, anthotyro, oil, spring onion, mint and seasoning. Combine until smooth.

Fill the zucchini flowers with the savoury filling with a pipping bag. Make sure you add just enough filling and not overload them. Carefully twist the tips of the petals and rest them on a platter. In another bowl, add flour and dunk each zucchini flower in the flour. Rest the flour covered blossoms on a platter. In another bowl, prepare the batter by combining flour, cornflour, beer or soda and salt.  Then dunk one by one in the batter. Pan fry the zucchini flowers over high heat.

Tips for perfect stuffed zucchini flowers:

• Slightly damp zucchini flowers will hold on to flour better than dry ones, so make sure these edible flowers are slightly damp.
• Fill the pan with a few stuffed zucchini flowers making sure you do not overcrowd the pan.

More zucchini flower ideas:

• Zucchini blossoms can be lightly fried and enjoyed without a stuffing.
• Add chilli flakes to the batter for a spicy taste. Dunk the flowers in batter and fry them.
• If the zucchini flowers are still attached to the baby zucchini, separate them from  the flower from, dunk them into batter and fry them too!

Other zucchini recipes

• If you love zucchini as much as my family does, then  try out this zucchini and feta pie!
• Greek fried zucchini (courgette) 
• Baked Greek omelette with zucchini (Sfougato)
• Authentic Kolokithokeftedes (Greek zucchini fritters)

Stuffed Zucchini Flowers with Feta

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Rating: 4.9/5

( 82 voted )

Serves: 14 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes 5 minutes

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 100gr Feta cheese
• 100gr anthotyro
• 1 spring onion (optional)
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 3-4 mint leaves
• Kosher salt
• ground black pepper

 For the batter:

• ½ cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup beer or soda water or sparkling water
• 2 teaspoons cornflour
• ½ teaspoon salt

For this recipe you will need 1 frying pan, 3 mixing bowls, platter and kitchen paper towel

 

Instructions

1. To prepare these stuffed zucchini blossoms with Feta start by gathering all your ingredients and kitchen utensils. If you have purchased  zucchinis with attached blossoms, then separate from each other. Open the delicate zucchini flower carefully and remove the pistil from inside. Wash them under running water carefully and let them dry on  paper kitchen towel. Let them dry for 2-3 minutes. Do not let the zucchini flowers dry completely as the flour will not stick to them.
2. Continue by preparing the savoury cheesy filling. Finely chop mint and spring onion. In a mixing bowl combine Feta cheese, anthotyro, sunflower oil, mint, spring onion and mix to creamy consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
3. To make the batter combine flour, cornflour, beer or soda water and season with salt.
4. Fill one by one the zucchini flowers with the savoury Feta cheese filling. You can either do so either with a tablespoon or with a pipping bag. Each zucchini blossom will accommodate approximately 1 tablespoon’s worth of filling.
5. Gently twist the tips of the petals to seal the filling and rest them on a platter. Make sure you add just enough filling and don't overload them. This may result in cheesy filling in the pan.
6. Heat oil in a frying pan.
7. Dunk one stuffed zucchini flower at a time in the batter and shallow pan fry them for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Make sure you do not overcrowd the pan.
8. Rest the fried stuffed zucchini flowers on kitchen paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
9. Serve warm with a drizzle of honey.