This is another way to make those delicious Zucchini flowers. If you have a lot of flowers, this is an easier way to enjoy them! Each fritter is packed with the most delicious zucchini flower flavor. These summer delicacies are a favorite in Italian families. Many people ask me, “What does it taste like?” To me, the flower has a faint taste of zucchini. If you ever get your hands on these flowers, try this recipe or my other recipe.
Male flower vs Female Flower
The flowers that can be picked and eaten this way are ONLY the male flowers. WHY? The female flowers of a zucchini plant bear the actual zucchini directly underneath it. If you pick this flower, your plant will yield no zucchini. Here is a picture of the difference:
Clean the Zucchini flowers, by removing the stem and stamen and giving it a gentle wash in cold water. Lay out on paper towel to dry.
Chop the flower into three parts and set aside.
Make the batter: Into a bowl add flour, salt, pepper and mix.
Whisk the egg and add it to the flour, along with seltzer water. Start out with 1/2 cup of seltzer and mix. If the batter is too thick add some seltzer a few tablespoons at at time until you achieve a pancake like batter.
Add in grated cheese, parsley, basil and mix.
Gently fold in the flowers and make sure to coat everything.
Into a fry pan, add olive oil or canola oil. Once the oil is hot, drop tablespoonfuls into the oil and flatten slightly. Fry until golden brown on each side.
Place on a wire rack to drain and sprinkle with salt while still hot.