07/07/2026
🌼🇮🇹 NONNA’S ZUCCHINI FLOWERS FRITTERS
✨ Pizzelle di Ciurilli — Crispy Italian Zucchini Blossom Fritters ✨
If you grew up in an Italian family, you know one thing for sure…
When zucchini flowers appeared in the kitchen, something delicious was about to happen. 🌼😄
In Naples, these golden little beauties are called Pizzelle di Ciurilli — crispy zucchini flower fritters made with a simple savory batter, fresh blossoms, pecorino cheese, and just enough frying magic to make the whole house smell like Nonna’s kitchen.
They’re crispy outside, soft and savory inside, cheesy, golden, and dangerously easy to eat.
SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE:
https://mangiawithnonna.com/nonnas-zucchini-flowers-fritters/
You say, “I’ll just have one.”
Nonna says, “Mangia, mangia.”
And suddenly the plate is empty. 😂❤️
These fritters are perfect as an appetizer, side dish, aperitivo snack, or summer party bite. Serve them hot with cheese, cured meats, a chilled glass of wine, or just stand by the stove and pretend you’re “testing” them for quality control. 🍷🌼
🍴 Why Nonna Loves This Recipe
✅ It’s budget-friendly
✅ It’s quick and easy
✅ It uses beautiful seasonal zucchini blossoms
✅ It’s crispy, cheesy, and full of flavor
✅ It tastes like Southern Italian summer
✅ Everyone fights over the last one — always!
🕒 Cooking Time & Details
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10–15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Very Easy
Servings: 4–6
🛒 Ingredients
3 cups zucchini flowers, about 400 g, washed and cut into strips
2 cups all-purpose flour, about 250 g
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup grated pecorino cheese
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup light beer
1/2 cup water
Peanut oil, for frying
Extra salt, for sprinkling while hot, optional
👩🍳 Method: Step-by-Step
1️⃣ Make the Batter
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and grated pecorino cheese.
Add the beaten egg, light beer, and water.
Mix until smooth.
Season with black pepper to taste.
The batter should be thick but still spoonable — not too runny, not too stiff.
2️⃣ Add the Zucchini Flowers
Gently fold the sliced zucchini flowers into the batter.
Be gentle — these blossoms are delicate, like Nonna when someone says “jarred sauce.” 😂
Mix just until the flowers are evenly coated.
3️⃣ Fry the Fritters
In a deep skillet, heat about 2 inches of peanut oil to 350°F / 175°C.
Using a tablespoon, scoop the batter and gently drop it into the hot oil.
Fry 4–5 fritters at a time, making sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden, crisp, and beautifully puffed.
Transfer the fritters to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Sprinkle lightly with salt while they’re still hot.
Serve immediately — because these are best when they’re crispy, hot, and disappearing faster than you can count them. 🌼🔥
💡 Nonna’s Tips & Tricks
🌼 Fry Them Right Away
Once the batter is mixed, fry immediately. The baking soda and cream of tartar activate fast, so don’t let the batter sit too long.
🌼 Use Fresh Zucchini Flowers
Choose bright, firm blossoms without wilting. Fresh flowers make the best fritters.
🌼 Make Them Small
Smaller fritters cook more evenly and stay crispier.
🌼 Want Them Extra Rich?
Fill the blossoms with a little ricotta, mozzarella, or diced salami before adding them to the batter.
🌼 Try a Gluten-Free Version
Chickpea flour can be used for a nutty, rustic twist.
🌼 Serve Hot
These fritters are at their best straight from the pan — golden, crispy, cheesy, and impossible to resist.
🇮🇹 A Little Taste of Naples at Home
Pizzelle di Ciurilli are one of those recipes that prove the simplest Italian food is often the most unforgettable.
A handful of zucchini flowers, a bowl of batter, a little pecorino, and suddenly your kitchen feels like a sunny street market in Naples.
Crispy, cheesy, humble, and made with love — exactly how Nonna would want it. ❤️🌼
SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE:
https://mangiawithnonna.com/nonnas-zucchini-flowers-fritters/