Stuffed zucchini flowers (vegetarian)

«Ανθοί κολοκυθιάς» <br/> Πηγή: Γ. Γρούτας

«Ανθοί κολοκυθιάς» Πηγή: Γ. Γρούτας

«Ανθοί κολοκυθιάς» <br/> Πηγή: Γ. Γρούτας

Vegetarian variant of Cypriot stuffed vine leaves. The filling of the flowers is based on rice or a combination of rice and bulgur wheat.

Name - Recipe
Cypriot name of dish
Ανθοί κολοκυθιάς γεμιστοί (νηστήσιμοι). Anthoí kolokithiás gemistoi (for fasting).
Greek name - description

Ανθοί κολοκυθιάς γεμιστοί (νηστήσιμοι).

Ingredients

Version A:
For the filling (20 zucchini flowers)
1 teacup of glacé rice 
1 onion finely chopped
¼ cup of olive oil
1 tablespoon of dried spearmint, finely grated
½ teaspoon of cinnamon 
½ lemon juice
salt and pepper
For baking:
¼ cup of olive oil
2 cups of water
½ lemon juice

Version B:
¼ cup of olive oil
2 to 3 onions, finely chopped
1 cup tomato juice
1 grated carrot
finely chopped parsley
spearmint, salt, pepper
juice of 2 lemons
1 cup bulgur wheat
1 cup of rice
35-40 pumpkin flowers

Method

Version A: 
For the filling, add the olive oil in a pan and soften the onion. Remove from the heat and add the rice, lemon and spices. Stir well, stuff the florets and arrange them in the bottom of a pot. Cover with a plate, add the olive oil, lemon juice and water. Cook over medium heat for about half an hour. Recipe editing: Ioannidou Marilena, in Little Volunteers and Kornos Women's Association 2009).

Version B: 
Wash and drain the flowers. In a large pot sauté the finely chopped onions in olive oil until lightly brown. Add the tomato juice and let it reduce. Add the grated carrot, mint, salt, pepper, lemon juice, finely chopped parsley, bulgur and rice and mix well for 2-3 minutes. Take the flowers one by one and stuff them with the mixture. Close the sides inwards and place the flowers in the pot. Add some water and a bit more olive oil and cook for about 15 minutes. (Ministry of Agriculture 2010, Cypriot traditional preparations, 28).

Cooking method

Sauté
Boil in a pot

Comments

See also stuffed vegetables recipe in RECIPES section. 
See also stuffed vine leaves recipe in RECIPES section.

Time period
19th to 21st c.
Βibliography

Little Volunteers and Women's Association of Kornos (2009), Traditional foods of Kornos, Ioannidou M. (ed.), Kornos.

Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Agriculture (2010), Cypriot traditional preparations, Press and Information Office, Nicosia.

Researcher / Recorder

Stalo Lazarou, Varvara Yangou, Argyro Xenophontos