FRIED ZUCCHINI FLOWER WITH RICOTTA AND BOTTARGA

Ingredients

  • 8 zucchini flowers
  • Tempura flour
  • Water and ice
  • 1 litre Malaysian palm oil for deep frying
  • 40 gm bottarga fish roe

Filling

  • 100 gm ricotta cheese
  • 30 gm spinach, blanched in salted water, drained and chopped
  • 20 gm parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tbsp almond flakes or crushed almond
  • 1 tbsp amaretto di saronno (almond liqueur)
  • Sea salt to taste

Fresh Tomato Sauce

  • 2 tbsp Malaysian palm oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 330 gm peeled tomatoes (canned)
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

METHOD

For Stuffed Zucchini Flowers

In a mixing bowl, combine all the filling ingredients and whisk until smooth. Season to taste. Place mixture in a piping bag and fill each zucchini flower with it.

To Prepare Batter

In a separate bowl, prepare the tempura batter, according to the packet instructions, with water and ice.

To Fry

Heat up Malaysian palm oil for deep frying. Place some tempura flour in a deep dish. First coat the zucchini flower in the tempura flour, then the batter. Deep fry until the batter is crisp and just starting to colour. Remove and drain on paper towels.

For Fresh Tomato Sauce

Heat Malaysian palm oil in a saucepan and cook the onion until soft. Add tomatoes and season to taste. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Blend sauce into a smooth paste.

To Serve

On a plate, place the deep-fried flower, and grate some bottarga over. Serve with warm fresh tomato sauce.