Kabak Çiçeği Dolması (Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms)

Ingredients

• 16 large Zucchini Blossoms
• 0.5 cup Rice
• 1 medium Onion
• 0.25 cup Fresh Dill
• 0.25 cup Fresh Mint
• 0.25 cup Currants
• 0.25 cup Pine Nuts
• 0.5 cup Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1 tsp Sugar
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.25 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

1. 1Gently rinse the 16 large Zucchini Blossoms under cool water and carefully remove the pistil from the inside of each blossom. Lay them on a clean kitchen towel to dry and set them aside.
2. 2Rinse the 0.5 cup Rice under cool water until the water runs clear. Drain the rice well and set it aside.
3. 3Finely dice the 1 medium Onion. Finely chop the 0.25 cup Fresh Dill and the 0.25 cup Fresh Mint. Measure out the 0.25 cup Currants and the 0.25 cup Pine Nuts.
4. 4In a large bowl, combine the rinsed 0.5 cup Rice, the diced 1 medium Onion, the chopped 0.25 cup Fresh Dill, the chopped 0.25 cup Fresh Mint, the 0.25 cup Currants, and the 0.25 cup Pine Nuts. Add 0.25 cup of the 0.5 cup Olive Oil, the 2 tbsp Lemon Juice, the 1 tsp Sugar, the 0.5 tsp Salt, and the 0.25 tsp Black Pepper. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly until well combined.
5. 5Carefully spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the rice mixture into each of the 16 large Zucchini Blossoms, filling them gently without overstuffing. Fold the petals of each blossom inwards to enclose the filling.
6. 6Arrange the stuffed zucchini blossoms in a single layer in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Drizzle the remaining 0.25 cup of the 0.5 cup Olive Oil over the blossoms. Add enough water to just cover the bottom 1/2-inch of the pot.
7. 7Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Place the pot over medium heat and bring the water to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, maintaining a very gentle simmer, and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until the rice inside the blossoms is tender and fully cooked. You can check by carefully removing one blossom and tasting the rice.
8. 8Remove the pot from the heat and let the stuffed zucchini blossoms cool in the pot for at least 10 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and prevents the delicate blossoms from breaking when handled.

Substitutions

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