What is it?

The deliciously edible, golden-orange flowers of zucchini and other summer squash are a great delicacy; they’re mostly available at farmers’ markets or upscale grocery stores. The blossoms have a subtle squash flavor, but their delicate texture takes well to frying, which renders them crisp and lacy.

Try squash blossoms raw in salads, lightly sautéed, stuffed with cheese, or battered and fried.

How to choose:

If you are buying squash blossoms at a farmers’ market or grocery store, look for perky petals that show no signs of wilt.

If you’re harvesting squash blossoms from your own garden, be sure to pick only male flowers; picking female flowers can decrease the plant’s yield of actual squash. The male flowers have a straight stem and no pistil; female flowers have a large swelling (ovary) beneath the blossom. Harvest blossoms early in the morning when they’re closed and the bees are inactive.

How to prep:

Begin by inspecting the blossoms for insects, and then wash and gently pat them dry. Insert your index finger into each blossom to snap off and remove the stamen. Don’t worry if the petals tear slightly in the process.

How to store:

Squash blossoms will keep for one to a few days. To store for more than a day, refrigerate them—without washing—in a sealed container.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Fried Squash Blossoms with Filberts and Bayley Hazen Blue

  We really like the contrast of these squash blossoms: lightly crisp outside, warm and melting inside; comfort food and yet beautiful enough for a dinner party. The easiest squash blossoms…

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  Recipe

  Linguine with Squash Blossoms and Lemon Cream Sauce

  Squash blossoms are pale yellow or orange and have a delicate squash flavor that seems to melt into this creamy lemon sauce.

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  Recipe

  Fried Squash Blossoms

  Dipped in a simple tempura-like batter and fried, squash blossoms can be a crisp, unexpectedly succulent pre-dinner snack.

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  Recipe

  Risotto-Style Summer Heirloom Farro

  值得庆幸的是，旧世界谷物Farro使其成为新世界，以便我们享受这个惊人的菜肴。这道菜类似于意大利煨饭，但是，在我们的美国遗产中，......