Squash blossom facts for kids
Zucchini flowers
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| Alternative names | Courgette flowers |
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| Type | Edible flowers |
Squash blossoms are the beautiful, edible flowers that grow on squash plants. In Great Britain, people often call them courgette flowers. These flowers come from different types of Cucurbita plants. This includes the plants that give us zucchini, marrow, spaghetti squash, and many other kinds of squash.
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Finding Squash Blossoms
Squash blossoms are very delicate. They do not last long after being picked. Because of this, you will rarely find them in regular supermarkets.
Squash plants have both male and female flowers. You can use either type of flower for cooking. However, if you only pick the male flowers, the plant can still grow squash fruits. This is because the female flowers are left to be pollinated.
Cooking with Squash Blossoms
Squash blossoms have a mild flavor. It reminds some people of young zucchinis. You can even eat them raw! These flowers are very versatile in the kitchen. People often stuff them, fry them in a light batter, or use them to make soup.
Stuffed Squash Blossoms
Squash blossoms are often stuffed and cooked. This is a common way to prepare them in parts of Southeast Europe and the Middle East. These dishes are part of a family of stuffed vegetable meals called dolma. This cooking style comes from the old Ottoman Empire.
In Greece, this dish is known as Kolokythoanthoi. In Turkey, it is called Kabak çiçeği dolması. Often, the stuffing includes a soft cheese, like ricotta.
In Turkey, people usually stuff squash blossoms with rice. There are two main types of this dish:
- One type has minced meat in the stuffing. This version is usually served hot.
- The other type is meatless. It is called zeytinyağlı kabak çiçeği dolması. This means "stuffed squash blossoms with olive oil." This version is served cold. It is often eaten as a meze, which is a small appetizer, with a drink called rakı.
This dish is very popular in the Aegean Region of Turkey. It is especially linked to the Cretan Turks. These are people who moved to Turkey from Crete. Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots also cook stuffed blossoms in a similar way. In Cypriot Greek, the dish is called kupepia me anthus.
Other Ways to Enjoy Blossoms
In some parts of Italy, like Campania and Sicily, and in parts of Catalonia in Spain, squash blossoms are often made into fritters. These are pieces of food that are dipped in batter and fried.
Squash blossoms are also used a lot in Mexican cuisine. This is especially true in Central Mexico. There, they are used in soups. They also make a tasty filling for quesadillas, which are a type of folded tortilla.
Gallery
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Kolokythoanthoi are often served with a dollop of yogurt on the side
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Kolokythoanthoi prepared for cooking
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Frittelle di fiori di zucca (pumpkin flower fritters) also in Catalan flors de carbassera
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Kabak çiçeği dolması with meat
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Hobak-kkot-jeon (pan-fried stuffed Cucurbita moschata flowers)
See also
In Spanish: Flor de calabaza para niños
