April 30, 2015

"Z" is for Zucchini

I was intrigued the first time I saw zucchini in a European market (Cours Saleya in Nice). Next to the green vegetable so commonplace in North American kitchens was a smaller version sprouting a yellow bloom and I could only imagine how it would taste. 


Zucchini Blossoms at the Cours Saleya Market, Nice


Christopher Columbus brought squash seeds to Europe from the Americas and the variety we know today as zucchini originated in Italy.


Statue of Christopher Columbus, Santa Margherita Ligure


Italian cooks serve zucchini blossoms, fiori di zucca, dipped in a batter and deep-fried until crispy. Sometimes they're stuffed with cheese. While dining in Florence my daughter and I finished off a whole plate of fresh, delicate zucchini flowers (well, it was mostly me).


Deep Fried Zucchini Blossoms


The sunny yellow blooms are so pretty. I couldn’t stop taking pictures wherever I spotted them brightening up a market. And I still can’t decide how I prefer my zucchini – as a beautiful fresh blossom or a tender cooked vegetable.


Zucchini in Venice





Zucchini in Verona



And the letter Z  brings us to the end of another A-Z Challenge. Next month I’ll continue with my regular series of posts about my trip to Italy, picking up in the Northern Lakes at Lago Maggiore before heading east to Verona and Venice.

To everyone who followed along with me through Italy from A to Z this month – grazie mille!

10 comments:

  1. Zucchinis are great! The Deep Fried Zucchini Blossoms looks delicious.
    Congrats Faye - you made it!

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    1. The month really flew by quickly, didn't it? Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Thank you! I want to go back an spend a little more time reading the posts. A to Z is too much of a rush. Congratulations on finishing.

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    1. Thanks, Denise - congratulations to you as well!

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  3. Those Italian Zucchini blossoms sound great

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  4. Loving your theme :) I think it's really interesting seeing what everyone chose for their themes! I love Italy
    Popping by on the A to Z Road Trip
    Debbie
    www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

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  5. Hello there.
    Congratulations on completing the challenge! I've not heard of or seen zucchini blossoms before. Fascinating photos and history! Just popping over today from the Road Trip.

    Entrepreneurial Goddess

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