Italian Fried Courgette flowers

Ingredients

For the batter:

• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 cup beer
• Sea salt
• 1 egg white, whisked
• 8 baby courgettes (zucchini) with flowers
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Sea salt
• 2 red chiles, finely chopped, seeds removed
• A handful of fresh mint leaves, finely sliced
• A drizzle of good quality herb vinegar

Directions

Mix the first 3 ingredients for the batter together in a bowl. Whisk the egg whites until firm and fold into the batter.

Cut each courgette in 1/2 lengthways, but not cutting all the way through, so you still have the flower intact on the end. Heat oil for deep frying to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Dip each courgette with its flower into the batter, and fry in the oil until crispy and golden brown. Drain them on kitchen paper, then place them on a serving plate, sprinkle with salt, chiles and mint, and drizzle with vinegar.