Zucchini flower harvest

Before the zucchinis come the zucchini flowers- first come the males, and later the females which are attached to the zucchinis. You don't want to cut the female ones off, but as long as you leave enough male flowers on the plant so that the female ones can get fertilized, you can have 2 crops of food from the zucchini plant- first the (male) flowers and later the zucchinis.

Right now the female flowers aren't even blooming, but there are a few tiny zucchinis attached to them. And there are more male flowers than I can count, and tons more coming. So I cut a few off today to make beer battered zucchini flowers.


Ingredients for batter: For every 12 Zucchini flowers (stamen's removed) 1/2 of a 12 oz Beer (or 3/4th a cup, use either lager or pilsner for beer, can substitute soda water) 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1 cup and 2 tbs all purpose flour


combine flour and salt, whisk in beer (but not too much wisking or the batter will go flat), drench each zucchini flour in the mixture and shake off the extra

Meanwhile heat up about an inch of veggie oil on a small pan (I use cast iron) over medium heat. When oil is hot but not smoking, put in zucchini flowers


Fry about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown

Remove using a slotted spoon and dry on paper towel. Sprinkle with sea salt or more kosher salt and eat immediately