Few people know that the blossoms without a zucchini are male, those with a zucchini are female.
On the left side are girls- with zucchinis attached- and on the right boys- stems only
Look inside
Girls have a fallopian tube shaped stamen and boys... well you get it!
So now you can go out to your garden and pick away. We use the male blossoms to fry filled with ricotta cheese or mozzarella and a tiny piece of anchovy.
I have also had them steamed on a tomato sauce in a pan instead of fried for a lighter version.
In Rome it is common to top a pizza with slices of mozzarella, blossoms and a few anchovies.
When I go out into my tiny garden it is a thrill to watch the zucchini growing- we planted three plants and all are going strong. I think the important thing is not to let them get too big! Small is better.
This plant is ALL girls--- and I was really looking forward to frying some blossoms.
Not sure about the birds and the bees with zucchini
They seem to already know if they are male and female at birth.
So if you want to eat fried blossoms, pick the blossoms in the early morning while they are open.
The zucchini here are soooo tiny-- would also be great to fry
or use in this recipe from my friend Mimmo of Enoteca Baldi in Panzano
Buon appetito!
Stop by Summer Tomato for my article on the Italian Markets.
or use in this recipe from my friend Mimmo of Enoteca Baldi in Panzano
Buon appetito!
Stop by Summer Tomato for my article on the Italian Markets.
