Recipe of the week: #Courgette flowers

Courgette flowers are a delicious summer treat, which can be prepared in many ways. The most typical way to prepare courgette flowers is to fill them with different ingredients, usually anchovies and mozzarella, cover them in batter and subsequently fry them.

In the Italian region of Liguria, the recipe of courgette flowers differs slightly from the recipe which is mostly used in the rest of the peninsula.

In Liguria, courgette flowers are filled with a cream made of boiled potatoes and courgettes, with Parmesan cheese, eggs, basil and marjoram. Sometimes, green beans are used instead of courgettes and aromatic herbs such as oregano, mint and thyme can also be added.

Ligurian courgette flowers are cooked in oven and seasoned with olive oil, salt and black pepper. They can be enjoyed as a tasty antipasto or as a side dish.

Here is how to make typical courgette flowers according to the Ligurian tradition. 

In the following recipe, both courgettes and green beans are used for the filling.

Ingredients

400 g potatoes

150 g green beans

150 g courgettes

16 courgette flowers

5 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg

1 garlic clove

basil, marjoram, black pepper to taste

salt

extra-virgin olive oil

Method

Wash the vegetables. Trim the green beans and peel the potatoes. Chop the potatoes and the courgettes.

Boil the potatoes in salty water. Few minutes after the water starts boiling, add the green beans and the chopped courgettes. Cook until all vegetables are tender.

Drain the vegetables and let them cool down for some minutes, then mash them.

In a bowl, add the egg, the grated Parmesan and 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil to the mashed vegetables. Grind some basil leaves and the marjoram with the garlic clove and add it to the mixture. Season with salt and black pepper. 

In order to fill the courgette flowers, gently take off the pistil. Fill the flowers with the mixture, preferably using a pastry bag, then gently close the petals of the flower.

Dispose the courgette flowers into a greased tray, add some olive oil and cook in over at 180° for about 15 minutes. Serve lukewarm.