If you grow zucchini in your backyard or regularly visit the farmers’ market, you probably know squash blossoms as one of summer’s special treats. This ricotta-stuffed squash blossom recipe is an Italian favorite.

Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossom Recipe

Squash blossoms are the edible flower of the zucchini plant, often found in Central American and Mediterranean cuisines. You might see them called zucchini blossoms or zucchini flowers at the farmers’ market, and many vendors have them for most of the year depending on the growing region. They range from pale to vibrant yellow, and have a delicate yet meaty texture when cooked. The female flowers produce squashes, while the males have a pollen-filled stamen, which you can remove before cooking. All squash varieties produce flowers, including winter squash like butternut squash, but zucchini and other summer squash blossoms are the ones most commonly found as cooking ingredients. 

In Italy, the blossoms are known as fiori di zucca, and they are often deep-fried as an appetizer or used to top pizzas. They can even be eaten raw, simply sliced into ribbons to decorate your next salad. Sauté them with garlic and olive oil as a filling for quesadillas, or stir them into your favorite pasta dish.
Here are some ways to make the most out of your squash blossoms.

1. __Use as a pizza or flatbread topping__. Toss raw squash blossoms in olive oil before arranging them on a [pizza](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-best-homemade-pizza-dough-recipe-plus-12-homemade-pizza-recipe-ideas), so they don’t dry out while baking. 
2. __Try squash blossom quesadillas__. A Mexican classic! You can use them raw, or simply sauté lightly with garlic and a touch of oil, then fold into a tortilla with cheese and cook for the perfect [quesadilla](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gabriela-camaras-quesadillas-doradas-recipe).
3. __Toss with salad__. Add torn or sliced raw squash blossoms to your favorite salad for a pop of color and delicate squash flavor. 
4. __Fry them tempura-style__. If you’re skipping the cheese stuffing, [tempura-style frying](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vegetable-tempura-recipe) is the way to go. Make a [quick batter](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tempura-batter-recipe) with rice flour and seltzer for the airiest, crispiest tempura.
If you grow zucchini in your backyard or regularly visit the farmers’ market, you probably know squash blossoms as one of summer’s special treats. This ricotta-stuffed squash blossom recipe is an Italian favorite.

Squash blossoms are the edible flower of the zucchini plant, often found in Central American and Mediterranean cuisines. You might see them called zucchini blossoms or zucchini flowers at the farmers’ market, and many vendors have them for most of the year depending on the growing region. They range from pale to vibrant yellow, and have a delicate yet meaty texture when cooked. The female flowers produce squashes, while the males have a pollen-filled stamen, which you can remove before cooking. All squash varieties produce flowers, including winter squash like butternut squash, but zucchini and other summer squash blossoms are the ones most commonly found as cooking ingredients. In Italy, the blossoms are known as fiori di zucca, and they are often deep-fried as an appetizer or used to top pizzas. They can even be eaten raw, simply sliced into ribbons to decorate your next salad. Sauté them with garlic and olive oil as a filling for quesadillas, or stir them into your favorite pasta dish.

What Are Squash Blossoms?

Here are some ways to make the most out of your squash blossoms.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Use as a pizza or flatbread topping. Toss raw squash blossoms in olive oil before arranging them on a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-best-homemade-pizza-dough-recipe-plus-12-homemade-pizza-recipe-ideas' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/the-best-homemade-pizza-dough-recipe-plus-12-homemade-pizza-recipe-ideas","linkCopy":"pizza","category":null}'>pizza</a>, so they don’t dry out while baking. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Try squash blossom quesadillas. A Mexican classic! You can use them raw, or simply sauté lightly with garlic and a touch of oil, then fold into a tortilla with cheese and cook for the perfect <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gabriela-camaras-quesadillas-doradas-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/gabriela-camaras-quesadillas-doradas-recipe","linkCopy":"quesadilla","category":null}'>quesadilla</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Toss with salad. Add torn or sliced raw squash blossoms to your favorite salad for a pop of color and delicate squash flavor. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Fry them tempura-style. If you’re skipping the cheese stuffing, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vegetable-tempura-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/vegetable-tempura-recipe","linkCopy":"tempura-style frying","category":null}'>tempura-style frying</a> is the way to go. Make a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tempura-batter-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tempura-batter-recipe","linkCopy":"quick batter","category":null}'>quick batter</a> with rice flour and seltzer for the airiest, crispiest tempura. </li></ol>

4 Ways to Cook Squash Blossoms

Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossoms Recipe

If you grow zucchini in your backyard or regularly visit the farmers’ market, you probably know squash blossoms as one of summer’s special treats. This ricotta-stuffed squash blossom recipe is an Italian favorite.

If you grow zucchini in your backyard or regularly visit the farmers’ market, you probably know squash blossoms as one of summer’s special treats. This ricotta-stuffed squash blossom recipe is an Italian favorite.
