A Deliciously Tasty Squash Blossom Soup Recipe

Squash blossoms are absolutely delicious when you use them in your cooking. Even if you’ve never used flowers or blossoms in your cooking, it’s ridiculously easy. In this article, you’ll learn what these flowers are, how to harvest them, and how to prepare them to make fantastic squash blossom soup.

What Exactly Are Squash Blossoms, and Where Do I Get Them?

For anyone who has their own garden, you’ve seen squash blossoms on both your summer and winter squashes. Squash blossoms can sometimes be called “zucchini flowers,” but they are essentially the yellow or orange flowers on your squash plants.

People are including these flowers in more of their recipes. They taste a little like squash and are a mildly floral addition to any dish.

If you don’t have your own garden, you can:

1. Ask for the blossoms from a friend or family member who grows squash. Don’t worry about taking from their produce. Squash tends to be both hardy and prolific.
2. Check your favorite grocery store. Ask someone who works there if they don’t have them available in the produce section. They might be able to get their hands on some for you if they work with local farms.
3. Go to your local farmer’s market. If you can’t find a vendor selling the blossoms there, ask someone selling squash. Farmers who harvest their squash locally may be able to set you up to get blooms at their farm or on the next market day.
4. Buy fresh blossoms online. Most people would rather get fresh blossoms locally, but there are options online if your search proves fruitless.
5. These blossoms also come canned, often found in a store’s international foods section. While they won’t be fresh, they’ll come clean and ready to use.

No matter where you get your blossoms, they’re sure to brighten your favorite soup and add depth to the flavor profile unrivaled by any other ingredient.

Are All Squash Blossoms the Same?

Each squash plant will have male and female blossoms. The male blossoms won’t produce any squash on their own, so if you’re trying to have a high squash yield this year, stick with them.

When you want to pick only the male blossoms, you can ask an experienced gardener or look for information on how to identify them online.

How to Prepare Your Squash Blossoms Before Making Your Soup

Since squash blossoms are typically grown outside, there are a few things needed to prepare them for cooking.

1. Carefully open the blossom’s petals and ensure there aren’t any bugs hiding in them. You can do this outside, so you’re not shaking bugs into your kitchen.
2. Take out the piston or stamen by gently pinching and pulling it. Again, you can do this outside if your blossoms have a lot of pollen shaking out.
3. Once you’ve ensured your blossoms are empty, wash them and gently pat them dry.

Now You’re Ready to Make Your Squash Blossom Soup Recipe

All the effort put into harvesting or obtaining the squash blossoms is about to pay off. Here’s a delicious squash blossom soup recipe.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups of squash blossoms (be sure all stems are removed)
• ¼ cup onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 cups of water
• 3 cups of chicken broth (can replace with vegetable broth if desired)
• ¾ cup of heavy cream (can use sour cream if desired)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups of squash, peeled and diced (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Put the four cups of water into a large pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the squash blossoms. Boil for one minute and carefully remove the blossoms from the pot. Use tongs or a strainer to avoid touching the boiled water. Place them in a bowl of ice water to stop any additional cooking. Drain and chop the blossoms before setting them aside. (If using canned blossoms, you can skip the boiling and just chop them.)
2. Pour the boiled water into the sink and return the pot to the stove. Set the heat to low and melt the butter.
3. Once the butter is melted, add the diced squash (if using) and fry for about five minutes.
4. Add the onion and garlic to the pan before sauteeing for one minute.
5. Add the chopped squash blossoms and flour. Stir all the ingredients together.
6. Once the flour appears to have coated most of the ingredients, add the chicken broth. Next, add the heavy cream (or sour cream if substituting).
7. Continue to cook on low heat for eight minutes.
8. Turn off the heat and, if desired, add the soup to a blender. Mix well until your soup is smooth and creamy. You may also use an immersion blender and blend right in the cooking pot. If you prefer a chunky soup, skip this step and keep the soup in the pot for five more minutes to thicken.
9. If you’ve blended the soup, return it to the pan and cook for about five more minutes or until the soup thickens to your liking.
10. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve in bowls with an additional tablespoon of heavy cream on top. You may also want to garnish using parsley, epazote, or additional squash blossoms.

This soup is a truly rich, creamy, and delicious recipe. It’s perfect for quick meals or a special treat with family and friends.

Make Your Squash Blossom Soup Truly Your Own

The recipe here is exceptional enough to stand on its own, but you can always personalize your soup to meet your taste preferences, switch things up, or have fun with different ingredients. Some additions or alterations can include adding:

• A different herb like cilantro, spearmint, etc.
• Spicy diced peppers like jalapeno, poblano, ancho, etc. (whatever heat level you enjoy)
• Cooked pasta
• Cooked rice
• Tortilla chips as a topping
• Diced potatoes (add with or in place of diced squash)
• Vegetables like zucchini, corn, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.
• Cheese of your choosing
• Sour cream, if not used in place of heavy cream
• Mushrooms
• Tips of the squash vines (the softest, most tender tips you can find)
• White beans or bean of choice
• Masa Harina (mix with one cup of water for the last five to ten minutes before adding to soup)

No matter what you add to your squash blossom soup, you’ll find new ways to enjoy it when you switch up your recipe. Ingredient replacements and/or additions are what make a good cook become a great cook.

Enjoy the Creamy Flavor of Your Own Comforting Tasty Squash Blossom Soup

Now that you know more about squash blossoms and how easy it is to make a soup using them, you’ll be proud of any soup you whip up with this fantastic ingredient. Use the freshest flowers when possible, follow each step of the recipe, and your soup may become a fast favorite for anyone who enjoys it.

You can also read:

• A Deliciously Tasty Chinese Watercress Soup Recipe
• A Deliciously Tasty Peruvian Quinoa Soup Recipe
• How to Make McAlister’s Autumn Squash Soup Recipe at Home
• How to Make the Chick-Fil-A Tortilla Soup Recipe at Home
• How to Make The Barefoot Contessa Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe at Home