There are certain foods that people immersed in the healthy living world tend to be obsessed with… things that the average person isn’t even aware of.
Take nut butter for example. Every healthy foodie not only knows about nut butter, but probably has a dozen jars of it in their pantry at any given time. But use the term “nut butter” with a random person and ask them what their favorite is, and prepare for them to look at you like you have three heads.
The nut butters currently in my pantry
That’s because they probably know about peanut butter, but that’s all about it when it comes to nuts being processed into a smooth, creamy and dreamy spread.
Foods like hemp and chia seeds are another example. If you normally have these in your kitchen, you’re probably a health nut foodie. During a stint visiting my family earlier this year, my mom was all, “What are these crazy seeds and things that you’re buying and cooking with?”
(source)
Today I’m sharing a recipe centering around yet another healthy foodie eat – the delicate, beautiful zucchini blossom.
Harley’s interested in zucchini blossoms.
Had I not been obsessed with roaming the streets of farmer’s markets, I’m not even sure that I’d know about these dainty zucchini flowers. I’ve never once seen them in a food store, see them rarely while dining out, and have only found them at farmer’s markets a handful of times. Every time I see them, I can’t resist nabbing a bunch to later enjoy.
This was the case a few weeks ago, when I spotted not one, but two large boxes full of zucchini blossoms at an outdoor market stand. I picked 6 of them to take home, and merged my love of crostini combos with zucchini blossoms.
I’ve said this before, but appetizers for dinner are one of my favorite things. There’s something so fun to me about having a few different kinds of bites to munch on as a light dinner, and sometimes with a glass of wine. Usually my favorite appetizers are dishes that come together quite easily. Once in awhile I just cut up some cheese, bread, and apple slices, and call it dinner. Other times, like with this dish, there’s a teeny amount of effort involved, but it still only takes 15-20 minutes for the meal to come together.
I prepared the zucchini blossoms by stuffing them with a goat cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, basil, and bread crumb mixture, then sautéing them in olive oil. Meanwhile the ciabatta bread slices were brushed with olive oil, then throw in the oven to toast. Once everything was cooked to perfection, I threw the blossoms atop the crostini, drizzled each with a touch of honey, and just like that, my appetizer dinner was ready to be devoured.
Goat Cheese Stuffed Zucchini Blossom Crostini
Ingredients
- 6 oz of ciabatta bread cut into 6 slices
- 6 zucchini blossoms
- 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 2 oz goat cheese
- 2 TBSP cream cheese
- 2 TBSP Italian bread crumbs
- 1 TBSP chopped fresh basil
- 1 TSP lemon juice
- 1 TBSP honey
- Sprinkle of sea salt about 1/8 TSP
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Arrange the ciabatta slices on a baking sheet, then use 1 TBSP of olive oil to brush onto the top of each piece. Place in the oven and bake until lightly browned, 7-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prep the zucchini blossoms: If the flowers came attached to mini zucchini heads, chop those off and save them for another time. Also cut off the seedy parts in the heart of the blossoms.
- In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, bread crumbs, basil and lemon juice. Mix until combined well.
- Using a butter knife, delicately stuff each blossom with some of the goat cheese mixture.
- Warm the remaining olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the zucchini blossoms, and sauté on each side until lightly browned.
- Remove the ciabatta bread from the oven once toasted, and arrange on a serving platter. Once the zucchini blossoms are done cooking, use a spatula to move them atop the crostini slices on the platter.
- Sprinkle sea salt and drizzle the honey on top. Enjoy immediately.
Nutrition
Tell me… Have you ever eaten/cooked with zucchini blossoms? Health nuts, name a food that you eat that may not be all that common to the rest of the world!
I’ve never tried zucchini blossoms before but they look so pretty and delicious on these crostinis!
I love an appetizer dinner too. It’s fun to have variety plus it always goes well with wine. 😉
You need to try em if you ever seen them at a market!
I have about 40 jars of nut butter as well LOL. Goat cheese has a special place in my heart!
You stereotypical healthy living blogger you! Hahaha
This looks so good! I just bought some zucchini too! Good timing!
Thanks! Hope that you try it out.
I love apps for dinner too!! They are just so tasty and the small bites are so fun. This looks amazing! I love zucchini flowers! I had some really great ones when I was in Greece. You are right that they are kind of hard to find. Also, your assessment of the healthy living blogger’s food obsessions is so spot on! Haha.
Ooooh! I’d like to be eating zucchini flowers in Greece right about now. 🙂
These look SO good. I’ve never eaten a zucchini blossom, but have been wanting to!! Your nut butter stash is VERY impressive.
Why thank you! I strive to impress in the nut butter department 😉
Those look so elegant! 🙂 and quite the impressive nut butter stock you’ve got going =) I think at my peak, I had like 15 jars! Haha.
I’m not alone in my obsession then!! I can’t help it, I like to rotate em and my favorite changes depending on the week.
Oh my gosh I love zucchini blossom! In southern Italy we prepare them in a similar way, sometimes also battered and fried 🙂 Yum!
For some reason I never came across a menu with zucchini blossoms when I studied in Sicily… wish I had though!
These are beautiful! Pinning them to my Thanksgiving board now!!
Awesome!! 🙂
I bought 3 different kinds of Peanut butter this week! My supply was low and couldn’t help but think of your love for nut butters when I left the store after picking up only two different kinds of peanut butter.
Ha! Ah yes, though my favorite varies depending on the week, my love for nut butters in general is unwavering!