Squash Blossoms & Smoked Bandel Cheese Frittata | Kitchenstagram
Frittata is a humble yet versatile Italian egg-based dish, similar to an omelette but enriched with cheese, meats and seasonal vegetables. This colourful frittata makes an excellent choice for breakfast, brunch or a light lunch. Using farm-fresh eggs, delicate squash blossoms from my terrace garden and smoked Bandel Cheese, this dish celebrates local, seasonal ingredients in a way your family will love.
If you’re new to cooking with squash blossoms, don’t be intimidated! These edible flowers are as delicious as they are beautiful- just handle them with care, as they’re quite fragile. In this recipe chopped squash blossoms are gently folded into the egg mixture, with a few laid on top for an elegant presentation. The crumbled smoked Bandel cheese adds a depth of flavour, complementing the mild sweetness of the blossoms.
One of the best thing about a frittata is its convenience. It’s a one-pan dish that can be made ahead and served warm, at room temperature, or even cold. And if you have extra squash blossoms, try stuffing them with ricotta cheese and deep-fry them.
How to clean Squash Blossoms?
Cleaning Squash blossoms is an essential step before cooking, whether they are male or female. Male blossoms have a single, pollen-covered stamen, while female blossoms contain a stigma, which appears as a more clustered, flower-like structure inside. Both need to be removed before cooking to ensure smoother texture and better presentation.
Since squash blossoms are delicate and prone to tearing, handling them gently is crucial. Using tweezers is an effective method to carefully remove the stamen or stigma without damaging the petals.
To clean the blossoms, first, inspect them for any dirt or small insects hiding inside. Rinse them lightly under cool water or wipe them with a damp towel. After removing the stamen or stigma, let the blossoms dry on a clean towel before using them for cooking.
Both female and male blossoms are equally delicious and can be stuffed, fried, sautéed or used in soups and salads. Proper preparation ensures they maintain their delicate texture and flavour, making them a delightful addition to many dishes.
Ingredients needed for Squash Blossoms & Smoked Bandel Cheese Frittata:
A well-made frittata is all about quality ingredients, and this recipe highlights fresh, flavourful components.
Egg: The foundation of this dish is eggs and using organic or farm-fresh eggs makes all the difference. Fresh eggs have a rich, golden yolk that sits high on the whites, adding depth to both texture an taste.
Squash Blossoms: Squash blossoms bring a delicate, slightly sweet flavour. These blossoms come in male and female varieties, with the female eventually producing squash. Both are edible, but the inner stamen should be removed before cooking. This beauties are from my terrace garden.
Smoked Bandel Cheese: For a smoky depth, smoked Bandel cheese is a perfect addition. This crumbly cheese, known for its bold, salty character, enhances the frittata’s richness and adds a slightly tangy note.
Butter: A touch of butter provides a velvety texture and enhances overall flavour.
Seasonings: Salt and freshly cracked black pepper- tie everything together, balancing the delicate flavours while adding a subtle kick.
Ingredients
4 nos. Egg
Salt to taste
1 tsp Freshly cracked Black pepper
7-8 nos. Squash Blossoms
1/4 cup Smoked Bandel Cheese, crumbled
1 no. Small Tomato or Cherry Tomato, sliced
1 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Olive oil
Preparation
- Step 1: Gently prepare the squash blossoms by removing the stigmas located deep in the center of the blossom and tear the zucchini flower petals from the base of the flower. Then roughly chop 3-4 blossoms and set aside. Slice in half the remaining squash blossoms and set aside.
- Step 2: In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until well combined. Then gently fold in the chopped squash blossoms and crumbled smoked Bandel Cheese to the egg mixture.
- Step 3: Melt butter in a frying pan. Then reduce the heat to low and add the egg mixture.
- Step 4: Then place the tomato slices and cook the frittata until it begin to set around edges, lay your squash blossoms on top and drizzle some olive oil. Then cook on lowest heat until its completely set and puffed.
- Step 5: Serve immediately with freshly cracked black pepper or a dollop of Crème Fraîche. Enjoy!!
About Me
DEBJANI MONDAL
Welcome to Kitchenstagram, the home of delicious recipes, culinary inspiration and cooking adventures. I’m Debjani and I’m thrilled to be your guide through the wonderful world of food. I’m a self-taught professional baker, home chef, recipe developer, author of Kitchenstagram and an aspiring YouTuber.
My passion for food and cooking began at a very young age, when I would watch my mom and dad cook for me and my brother. My dad, in particular is a great cook whose culinary skills made a lasting impression on me. My dad would cook up a storm on special occasions by cooking variety of dishes, from delicious biriyani to samosa, fish fry, rasgullas and kachoris (sweet & spicy deep fried pastry with filling of lentils, meat or fish…>>>>>
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