Seasonal recipe: Squash blossom frittata

This quick dish uses loads of garden produce or farmers market finds and is perfect for a light summer meal.

Wed, Jun 24 2009 at 9:50 AM EST

Squash blossom frittata

This week’s seasonal recipe comes from the Seasonal Chef website. Zucchini and yellow squash are coming into season in my region. I’ve been able to get them for the past two weeks at my farmers market.

I don’t grow them in my garden because they take a lot of room, and they are always abundant and inexpensive at the market during the summer. You will find me buying handfuls of them each week. One of my favorite simple side dishes is zucchini, yellow squash and onion sautéed in a little olive oil or done on the grill in a foil packet.

This squash blossom frittata uses zucchini squash or yellow squash (or you could go crazy and use both), and the flower blossoms from the vegetables. You can buy the blossoms at most farmers markets and even at some grocery stores. With the chives, parsley, green onion and eggs in this recipe, it’s a dish that can be made almost entirely with ingredients from a backyard garden or farmers market.

Ingredients

3-4 blossoms, rinsed and dried
1-2 small zucchini or yellow squash, sliced thinly
4 eggs
dash of milk
2 green onions, chopped
Asiago cheese
Chopped parsely and snipped chives (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Time Estimates

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 45 min

Total time: 1 hr

Directions

Beat eggs and milk in a bowl. Add parsley and chives if you are using them. Add a little salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Pick 3 to 4 blossoms per person and 1 or 2 baby yellow or green summer squash. Rinse blossoms well and drain on paper towels.
Melt a small amount of butter (or use olive oil) and sauté the green onions and zucchni or squash until soft. Add blossoms and sauté for about 30 minutes. Remove blossoms from pan.
Pour egg mix into the same pan, and add green onions, squash and blossoms to the pan – arranging evenly.
Cook over medium-low heat until almost set. Sprinkle with cheese.
Cook under broiler until lightly puffed and slightly browned.