Greek Meze and Appetisers · The Mainland · Boiled and Simmered · The Summer Table
Greek Stuffed Courgette Flowers (Kolokithoanthoi Gemisti)
Κολοκυθοανθοί γεμιστοί koh-loh-kee-thoh-an-THEE yeh-mee-STEE · Kolokithoanthoi gemistoi
In short
Kolokithoanthoi gemisti are courgette flowers, filled with a rice, herb and feta mixture, then gently steamed or lightly fried until just tender. It is a genuinely delicate, seasonal dish, possible only for the short window when courgette plants are actually flowering.
Stuffed Courgette Flowers
- Prep
- 50m
- Cook
- 20m
- Total
- 1h 10m
- Serves
- 6
- Level
- Advanced
Ingredients
Ingredients
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Method
- 01Gently check inside each courgette flower and remove the stamen from male flowers. Handle carefully throughout, since they tear easily.Handle everything gently.Yiayia
- 02Mix the rice, feta, grated onion, dill, mint, egg and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a bowl. Season well.
Onion - 03Carefully spoon a small amount of filling into each flower, not overfilling, then gently twist the petal tips closed.
- 04To steam, arrange the filled flowers in a single layer in a steamer basket over simmering water. Cover and steam for 15 to 20 minutes, until the rice is tender.
Rice - 05Alternatively, fry gently in a little olive oil over a low heat, turning carefully, for a similar time, until tender.
- 06Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and lemon juice before serving warm.
Lemon
Nutrition, per 3 to 4 flowers
- Calories
- 168
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Sat fat
- 3 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
These figures are calculated estimates based on the ingredients listed, not laboratory analysis. Actual values vary with brands, cuts and portion size.
Courgette flowers are only available for a short stretch of summer, and a household growing its own courgettes tends to make the absolute most of that window, since the flowers themselves are genuinely delicate, wilting within hours of picking and needing to be used almost immediately rather than stored.
Filled with a light rice, herb and feta mixture and gently steamed rather than deep-fried, kolokithoanthoi gemisti is a considerably more delicate dish than the better-known fried courgette flowers found at some tavernas, closer in spirit to a small, tender dolma than a crisp fritter.
This is genuinely fiddly, patient work, filling dozens of small, fragile flowers by hand, and it rewards being made with company on a summer afternoon rather than rushed through alone.
Key preparation steps
- Gently clean courgette flowers, keeping them whole.
- Mix a light rice, herb and feta filling.
- Fill each flower carefully and twist the tip closed.
- Steam or gently fry until just tender.
Handling the flowers
Courgette flowers are genuinely fragile, and gentle handling from the moment they are picked or bought is essential. Check inside each one for insects, remove the stamen from male flowers, which have a thin stem rather than a small courgette attached, and use them as close to picking as you possibly can, since they wilt within hours.
The filling
Raw rice, mixed with crumbled feta, chopped fresh dill and mint, a little grated onion and a beaten egg to bind, gives a filling light enough not to overwhelm the delicate flower, unlike the heartier rice fillings used for dolmades or gemista.
Filling and cooking
Spoon a small amount of filling into each flower, being careful not to overfill since the rice will expand as it cooks, then gently twist the petal tips closed to seal. Steam gently over simmering water, or fry very briefly in a little oil, for around fifteen to twenty minutes, until the rice inside is tender and the flowers have softened without falling apart.
What matters in this dish
Use the flowers as fresh as possible
They wilt within hours of picking, so plan to fill and cook them the same day you get them.
Do not overfill
The rice expands as it cooks, and an overfilled flower is more likely to split open during cooking.
Handle everything gently
Courgette flowers are genuinely delicate at every stage, from cleaning through filling to cooking.
Questions people ask about Kolokithoanthoi gemistoi
Where do you buy courgette flowers?
Farmers' markets and good greengrocers sometimes carry them in season, though growing your own courgette plants is the most reliable source, since the flowers are too delicate to travel or store well commercially.
What is the difference between male and female courgette flowers?
Male flowers grow on a thin stem with no fruit attached and are generally used for stuffing, since picking them does not affect courgette production, while female flowers have a small courgette forming behind the bloom.
Can you fry these instead of steaming?
Yes, gently frying in a little olive oil over low heat is a traditional alternative to steaming, giving a slightly richer result, though the flowers need careful, gentle handling either way.
