Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms with Heirloom Tomato Salad
- 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, patted dry and cubed
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/4 cup chiffonade basil leaves
- 8 zucchini flowers
- 3 to 4 heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges (use different sizes and colors)
- 3 to 4 scallions, sliced super thin on the bias
- Kosher salt
- Red wine vinegar
- High quality extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup white wine
- Peanut oil or vegetable oil, for frying
- In a medium bowl, toss together the mozzarella, Parmesan and 2 tablespoons of the basil chiffonade.
- Gently stick your finger inside the flower all the way to the base where the flower meets the stem and carefully break off the stamen.
- When doing this be careful not to rip through the flower.
- Squeeze 2 tablespoons of the mozzarella mixture into an oblong shape and gently stuff it into each flower.
- Squeeze the flower around the cheese to close.
- Reserve.
- Toss the tomatoes together with the scallions and remaining basil in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle with salt and add a drizzle of red wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil.
- Taste to make sure it is delicious and adjust seasoning, if needed.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour and 1/2 cup of white wine.
- Mix until it becomes a loose batter adding more white wine, if necessary.
- Add peanut oil to a saucepan until it reaches a depth of 1-inch.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat.
- Test the oil by dropping a couple of beads of the batter into it.
- When they float instantly the oil is ready.
- If the oil begins to smoke, it is too hot.
- Set up a paper towel drying situation before frying the flowers.
- Dip the flowers, 1 at time, into the batter and carefully drop them into the oil.
- Fry on both sides until they are golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Remove the flowers from the oil, drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
- Continue with the remaining flowers.
- Arrange the tomato salad on 4 salad plates and top each plate with 2 flowers.
- What a delicious flower!
mozzarella, parmesan, chiffonade basil, zucchini, tomatoes, scallions, kosher salt, red wine vinegar, extravirgin olive oil, flour, white wine, peanut oil
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/stuffed-zucchini-blossoms-with-heirloom-tomato-salad-recipe.html (may not work)