Squash Blossom Risotto

[Mike Filigenzi]

We came across a recipe for this a week or two ago and, since squash blossoms are very cheap here right now ($1 for a bag of 30 or so) decided to make it. This recipe very plain - it called for butter, rice, stock, wine, cream, the blossoms, and a little parmigiano and that's it. What was different about it was that the cream was added about halfway through the cooking process. The cream cooked into the rice nicely and gave it a really rich character. The simplicity of the ingredients also allowed the flavor of the blossoms to come out, which is something I was a little concerned about.

It's not like I need to add an extra 600 calories to my risotto dishes, but I'll be adding cream as a standard ingredient in a lot of them in the future.

[Karen/NoCA]

We came across a recipe for this a week or two ago and, since squash blossoms are very cheap here right now ($1 for a bag of 30 or so) decided to make it. This recipe very plain - it called for butter, rice, stock, wine, cream, the blossoms, and a little parmigiano and that's it. What was different about it was that the cream was added about halfway through the cooking process. The cream cooked into the rice nicely and gave it a really rich character. The simplicity of the ingredients also allowed the flavor of the blossoms to come out, which is something I was a little concerned about.

It's not like I need to add an extra 600 calories to my risotto dishes, but I'll be adding cream as a standard ingredient in a lot of them in the future.

I love squash blossoms, and use them whenever I can find them at the Farmer's Markets. That was an excellent price, by the way. I learned about putting cream in risotto too Mike, and it really adds to the dish. Even a small amount of the cream can make a difference to many dishes.

[Jenise]

$1 a bag? You're killing me!

I've never had or even considered putting squash blossoms into a risotto, but what a monumental idea. I take it, the result was as beautiful as it sounds? Btw, did you use leave the little zucchinis attched?

[Mike Filigenzi]

$1 a bag? You're killing me!

I've never had or even considered putting squash blossoms into a risotto, but what a monumental idea. I take it, the result was as beautiful as it sounds? Btw, did you use leave the little zucchinis attched?

It's funny, but we almost never see the blossoms with the attached zucchs here. There's one guy who just started selling them at the market this year, but those go for $1.50 for a bundle of 4 or 5.

The blossoms were sliced crosswise into strips, and it did make a very pretty dish.

[Carl Eppig]

$1 a bag? You're killing me!

We get them for free here. We pick the female flowers, shake the pollen on a stud, and then basket them. Get ten or twelve a day. Will have to try the risotto.

[Tom Troiano]

Mike,

Sorry if I'm confused but where's the recipe? Did you post it?

Plenty of free squash flowers in my backyard!

[Rahsaan]

I thought this was the recipe: it called for butter, rice, stock, wine, cream, the blossoms, and a little parmigiano and that's it. What was different about it was that the cream was added about halfway through the cooking process.

[Mike Filigenzi]

I thought this was the recipe: it called for butter, rice, stock, wine, cream, the blossoms, and a little parmigiano and that's it. What was different about it was that the cream was added about halfway through the cooking process.

That was pretty much it. That is pretty generic, though, and there's a bit of missing info. I used 2 c. of rice, 1 c. of wine, about a quart of chicken stock (original recipe called for veggie stock), 1 c. of cream, and a bunch of the blossoms. Once the blossoms were destemmed and destamened and sliced crosswise, they loosely filled a quart bowl. It was made in the normal risotto manned, with the cream going in after about half the stock had been consumed.

If anyone would like, I'll be happy to post the original one (from Gourmet or Bon Appetit or one of those).

[Hoke]

Loves me some squash blossoms...especially when the serendipity arises of being in northern Italy in squash blossom seasons. They do 'em better than any other I've ever found.

Was recently down in the SF Bay area and at Cafe Rouge in Berkeley, where they featured squash blossoms stuffed with bocconcini and green beans in a frittura. Nicely crusty not greasy, and pretty tasty.

Love it when they do the frittura with chestnut flour---something about the combo of the chestnut, the delicacy of the squash blossom and the crunchiness that is sublime.

[Mike Filigenzi]

Yeah, they are delicious when they're stuffed and fried. We've done mozz and herbs, but I never thought of putting green beans in them. The chestnut flour sounds like a nice way to go as well.

[Jeff Grossman/NYC]

A place near me uses crabmeat. Yum.

[Hoke]

Yeah, they are delicious when they're stuffed and fried. We've done mozz and herbs, but I never thought of putting green beans in them. The chestnut flour sounds like a nice way to go as well.

Clarification: the green beans were cooked frittura and served along with the blossoms, not stuffed in them.

Another good frittura, this time Siciliam, is to store eggplant ice cold, cut it into long thin strips, dredge it in chestnut flour mixed with whatever herb/spice mix you wish, then dip into bubbling hot olive oil. One dip is usually perfect to crunch up the outside and leave the inside hot and melting soft and rich.