LISA FEATHERBY, GT FOOD DIRECTOR
Stuffedzucchiniflowers
withbasilsauce
SERVES 4-6 // PREP TIME 20 MINS // COOK 10 MINS“Themostimportantthingwhencookingvegetablesis tochoosethose
thatareinpeakseason,”saysLisaFeatherby.“Here,we’vefilledzucchini
flowerswitha lemonyroastedwalnutandzucchinimixtureandserved
themwitha summerybasilsauce.Thisis a greatentréefora dinner party.”12 zucchiniflowers(male
orfemale;seenote)
1 tbspextra-virginoliveoil
1 thinlyslicedgarlicclove
2-3 babyzucchini,
thinlysliced
Vegetableoil,for
deep-frying
Greenandpurple
basil,toserve
WALNUTAND
ZUCCHINIFILLING
1 zucchini,coarselygrated
½ smallgarlicclove,
coarselychopped
Juiceof1 lemon(ortotaste)
80 gmroastedwalnuts,
coarselychopped
BASILSAUCE
40 gmeachbasiland
babyspinachleaves
1 tspsaltedcapers,rinsed
andcoarselychopped
½ garlicclove,
coarselychopped
120 mlmild-flavoured
extra-virginoliveoil
BATTER
50 gm(¼cup)riceflour
55 gm(¼cup)plainflour1 Forwalnutandzucchini
filing,processzucchiniand
garlicina foodprocessor
untilsmooth.Seasontotaste
withlemonjuiceandsalt,
thenstirthroughwalnuts.
2 Gentlyopenzucchiniflowers
andplacea heapedteaspoon
offillingineach.Gentlytwist
topsofpetalstogethertoclose.
Refrigerate until required.3 Forbasilsauce,blanch
basilandspinachinboiling
wateruntilbrightgreen
(10-20seconds). Drain,refresh
inicedwater, thengently
squeezeoutexcessliquid.
Pressina cleanteatowel
toremoveanymoisture,then
transfertoa jugwithremaining
ingredientsandblendwith
a hand-heldblenderuntil
smooth.Seasontotasteand
refrigerateuntilrequired.
If desired,strainthesauce
fora lighter, cleanerfinish.
4 Heatoilina saucepanto
170 °C.Forbatter,whiskflours
ina bowltocombine,thenadd
enoughchilledwatertoform
a thinbatterandwhiskuntil
smooth(youwantthebatter
tobarelycoatthezucchini).Dip
preparedflowersintobatter,
gentlyshakingoffexcess,then
deep-fry,inbatches,until
goldenandcrisp(5minutes).
Drainonpapertoweland
seasontotastewithsaltflakes.
5 Toserve,spoonsomeofthe
basilsauceontoplates,topwith
zucchiniflowersandsliced
zucchini,thendrizzleover
a littlemoresauce.Garnish
withgreenandpurplebasil.
NoteIf usingmaleflowers,
youmayalsowanttoadd
extrathinlysliced babyor
smallzucchini. Makesure
toremovestamensfrom
the zucchini flowers.➤