acacia flowers

ACACIA FLOWER FRITTERS & ACACIA PANCAKES

Click play to see the video on how to make fluffy and fragrant 

acacia flower pancakes:

      Acacia didn't know (sorry, I couldn't help the wordplay), acacia flowers are in full bloom right now. The idea of eating flowers may put some people off but you just don't know something that others have known for aeons; that flowers can taste wonderful, are good for you, and let's face it they look so pretty on a plate. The acacias are blossoming all over the city in the springtime so if you like to forage and want to try something new, I strongly suggest you connect with what nature has to offer and pick these hanging flower clusters, they're such good eating!

        There are a bunch of wonderful things you can do with acacia flowers: you can eat them as they are; add them to your salad; macerate them in sugar and add them to your yogurt; incorporate them into your cookies, muffins and pancakes, or you can do what the Italians do and deep-fry these beauties.

HARVESTING AND PREPARING THE FLOWERS: 

·         pick when in full bloom, late May/early June

·         pick flower clusters, minus the leaves as they are toxic

·         give them a gentle wash is cool water then dab the excess water with paper towel

·         use within a couple of hours of picking for best results

Here are two divine and easy ways to cook with acacia flowers that are guaranteed to brighten up your weekend brunch: 

ACACIA FLOWER FRITTERS/FIORI D'ACACIA FRITTI

INGREDIENTS:

8-10 clusters of acacia flowers

8-10 Tb. all purpose flour
1 tsp. icing sugar

dash of salt

1 cup sparkling mineral water 

2 cups oil  i.e. vegetable oil or sunflower oil

Dusting of icing sugar

METHOD:

1.       In a bowl, add flour, icing sugar, and salt, then pour in mineral water and whisk until smooth

2.       Check that the consistency of the batter is such that it is just thick enough to coat the flowers when dipped in (you can add more water if you need to thin out the batter or conversely, you can add more flour, so long as each flower cluster is coated in the thick batter)

3.       Heat the oil in a small pot with deep sides

4.       Once oil is very hot dip your acacia blossoms in the batter to coat evenly, then dip completely into the hot oil

5.       Fry for 1.5 - 2 minutes turning them over half way through

6.       Once slightly golden, remove and place on paper towel, then continue to the next batch

7.       Dust with icing sugar or drizzle with maple syrup or honey

ACACIA FLOWER PANCAKES

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbs sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, or vegetable oil

splash vanilla essence

1 egg

1-1.5 cups of individual acacia blossoms

1 tablespoon vegetable oil or butter

METHOD:

1.       In a bowl, whisk together milk, butter/oil, vanilla essence, and egg

2.       Add flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt, then whisk until fully incorporated (don't over-  whisk, a  few clumps are fine)

3.       Stir in the acacia blossoms

4.       Butter/oil a hot non-stick pan or skillet

5.       Spoon in batter and shape into a round form with back of spoon (the size of pancakes is up to you)

6.       Let cook until bubbles start to form on the surface then flip onto other side until browned 

7.       Top with maple syrup, honey, icing sugar, or whipped cream