Stuffed Zucchini Cups With Goat Cheese Food

CRISP ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cover 3/4 tablespoon of the sumac with 1 tablespoon of boiling water and leave to infuse for 5 minutes. Add both types of cheese, oregano, walnuts, lemon zest, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a generous grind of pepper. Mix well.
• Fill the flowers by carefully opening them and either spooning or piping about a tablespoon of the ricotta mixture into each, gently pushing the filling all the way to the bottom of each blossom but being careful not to fill them too much; if you can get someone to hold the flower open for you, it would make it much easier. Gently twist the tips of the petals to secure the filling inside and set aside until you're ready to fry.
• Pour enough oil into a medium (about 8-inch/20-centimeter) nonstick frying pan so that the oil rises about 1 inch/2 centimeters up the sides of the pan. Place on a high heat for 5 minutes and then turn the heat down a fraction.
• Meanwhile, mix the flour and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Slowly pour in the sparkling water, whisking continuously to form a smooth batter.
• When bubbles start to surface in the oil, test it by dropping some batter into the oil: if it sizzles, you are ready. (The oil should hover between 320 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit/160 and 180 degrees Celsius.)
• Lower a zucchini blossom into the batter, turning to coat completely, before carefully placing in the hot oil. Repeat, cooking a few blossoms at a time, adjusting the temperature between batches so they take about 30 seconds on each side to turn a golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and then sprinkle with salt and the remaining 1/4 tablespoon sumac. Serve at once with the lemon wedges alongside.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS WITH ZUCCHINI NOODLES

Steps:

• For the blossoms: Heat the oil to 375 degrees F in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
• Combine the goat cheese, Parmesan, parsley and chives in a medium bowl. Season with salt. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag; cut a hole in the bag. Gently pipe the mixture into the zucchini blossoms and pinch the ends together a bit.
• Whisk together the flour and white wine in a medium bowl. Working in batches so you don¿t crowd the pot, dip each blossom into the batter and then carefully place in the hot oil. Cook until lightly puffed and golden, about 3 minutes. Remove the blossoms from the oil and drain on paper towels. Season with salt immediately.
• For the noodles: Coat a large skillet with some olive oil, add the anchovy, garlic, oregano and some red pepper flakes, and turn the heat to medium. When the garlic gets brown and aromatic, remove it from the skillet and discard. Add the tomatoes, some salt, and 1/4 cup water. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the water is reduced by about half.
• Remove the skillet from the heat, add the zucchini noodles and toss until just wilted. Taste and season.
• Toss the arugula with some olive oil and salt and divide it among 4 dinner plates. Top the arugula with some zucchini pasta and 2 zucchini blossoms, shave some Parmesan over the tops, and serve.

FRIED CHEESE-STUFFED ZUCCHINI BLOSSOMS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, water and salt until smooth. Set aside.
• In a small bowl combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, heavy cream, basil, and green onion. Mix until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons filling into each blossom. Close the blossoms and gently twist the petals to seal.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 1 minute.) Dip the stuffed zucchini blossoms in the batter and allow any excess batter to drip off. Fry for 1 to 2 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown. Allow the cooked blossoms to drain on paper towels.
• Season with salt and serve with your favorite marinara sauce or vinaigrette.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI CUPS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking dish or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut each zucchini into 3 equal sections and scoop out the center core of each, leaving about 1/2 inch of zucchini on the bottom. Finely chop the removed core and place in a bowl.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook onion until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, season with salt, and cook for for 5 minutes. Stir in carrot and reserved zucchini core and mix well. Season with garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir crumbled goat cheese into vegetable filling.
• Spoon vegetable filling into hollowed-out zucchini pieces and set into prepared baking dish or baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until zucchini are soft, 30 to 35 minutes.

ZUCCHINI AND GOAT CHEESE STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Bake or microwave the sweet potatoes until done but still firm.
• When cool enough to handle, cut each in half lengthwise.
• Scoop out the inside of each potato half, leaving a sturdy shell, about 1/4 inch thick all around.
• Transfer the scooped-out potato to a mixing bowl and mash coarsely.
• Heat the margarine in a medium skillet.
• Add the zucchini and sauté, stirring frequently, until it is golden and tender.
• Add the scallions and sauté for another minute or so.
• Combine the zucchini mixture with the mashed sweet potato in the mixing bowl.
• Add the goat cheese and salt, and stir well to combine.
• Stuff the mixture back into the potato shells.
• Heat as needed in the microwave or in a preheated 400-degree oven, and serve.