Stuffed Courgette Flowers with Paxton's Garlic & Herb Goat's Cheese

Courgette flowers are one of summer's most sought-after ingredients, prized for their delicate flavour and beautiful appearance. Filled with creamy Paxton's Garlic & Herb Goat's Cheese, coated in a light, crisp batter and finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon, they make an elegant starter or a memorable addition to a summer lunch. The cheese is already infused with garlic and herbs, so all that's left to do is let the fresh flavours of the season shine.

Serves: 4

Ingredients

For the stuffed courgette flowers

• 8 courgette flowers (male or female)
• 150g Paxton's Garlic & Herb Goat's Cheese
• Vegetable oil, for shallow frying
• Flaky sea salt
• Lemon wedges, to serve

For the batter

• 75g plain flour
• 25g cornflour
• 100ml chilled sparkling water
• A pinch of fine sea salt

Method

1. Gently inspect the courgette flowers, removing any insects or debris. If using male flowers, carefully remove the stamen from the centre. If using female flowers with a baby courgette attached, simply trim any rough stem and leave the courgette intact.
2. Spoon or pipe the Paxton's Garlic & Herb Goat's Cheese into each flower, then gently twist the petals together to enclose the filling.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the plain flour, cornflour, fine sea salt and chilled sparkling water until you have a light batter. A few small lumps are perfectly fine.
4. Pour approximately 1cm of vegetable oil into a large frying pan and heat to around 180°C.
5. Holding each flower by the stem (if attached), dip it into the batter, allowing any excess to drip away before carefully lowering it into the hot oil.
6. Shallow fry for 2–3 minutes, turning once, until crisp and lightly golden on all sides.
7. Transfer to kitchen paper to drain briefly, then finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt. Serve immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing over just before eating.

Top Tip: Don't worry if your courgette flowers have tiny courgettes attached. Female flowers cook beautifully and make the dish even more substantial. If you're harvesting from your own plants, pick male flowers first if you want to maximise your courgette crop.