CRISPY FRIED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BLOSSOMS
Crispy Fried Butternut Squash Blossoms
Y’all remember the episode of Insecure (Season 4 Episode 8) when Issa and Lawrence went to that restaurant because Lawrence had to talk to Issa about something and Issa ordered crispy squash flowers for the table? I always say there is an Insecure episode for every scenerio…
Yield: 2 - 4 servings
PREP IT!
4 ounces Butternut squash, fresh, cut into small cubes
1 teaspoon Oil, any kind
1 teaspoon Taste Tutor Seasoning 101
1 tablespoon Yellow onion, fresh, diced small
1 tablespoon Roasted red bell pepper, jarred, diced small
3 leaves Basil, fresh, diced
3 leaves Sage, fresh, diced
1 ounce Mozzarella cheese, shredded or diced
1½ ounce Asun (I use leftovers I had in the fridge) or any kind of cooked meat you have in the fridge
1 teaspoon Taste Tutor Suya Seasoning
2 ounces Mascarpone cheese
8 - 9 Squash blossoms, fresh, cleaned and destemmed
2 ounces Buttermilk
½ cup Breader (use this recipe or any store bought breader you like)
MAKE IT!
Toss the butternut squash in the oil and Taste Tutor Seasoning 101 to coat. Air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes until cooked through with a crisp exterior.
Mash the cooked butternut squash slightly with a fork.
Make the filling by stirring together cooked butternut squash, onion, roasted bell pepper, basil, sage, mozzarella, Asun or other cooked meat, Taste Tutor Suya Seasoning, and mascarpone until creamy and well combined.
To clean the squash blossoms, remove the stem and stamen from the flowers and gently rinse, then pat dry. I only use male flowers for this dish because why waste the females when that is where the fruit will come from?! You can use the male flowers after you use them to hand pollinate the female flowers if you’d like, so you get double use out of them.
Gently open each squash blossom and spoon in about 1–2 tablespoons of filling depending on how big the flower is. Twist the tops slightly to seal them closed.
Dip each stuffed blossom in buttermilk, letting excess drip off.
Roll gently in breader until lightly coated.
Lightly spray both sides of the coated blossoms with oil spray (about 1 tsp total).
Place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 380°F for 12 minutes, flipping gently halfway through. If you don’t have an air fryer then these can be deep fried.
Serve hot and crispy! These are great on their own but I ate them with pikliz.
Tip: If you want these to be meatless, just omit the meat and use the remaining ingredients. If you want this to be vegan, just omit the meat and replace all the dairy ingredients with a plant based alternative.
Reheat leftovers: in the oven or air fyer
