Artichoke Bottoms Braised In Olive Oil With Garlic And Mint Food

LEMON MINT BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Squeeze 2 lemon halves into a large bowl of cold water.
• Cut off top inch of 1 artichoke and bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base (keep stem attached). Discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves.
• Cut off remaining leaves 1/2 inch above top of artichoke base using a sharp knife, then pull out purple leaves and scoop out fuzzy choke with a melon-ball cutter. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke.
• Trim a thin slice from stem end, then trim side of stem down to pale green inner core. Rub cut surfaces with lemon halves, then put artichokes in lemon water.
• Trim remaining artichokes in same manner.
• Combine lemon juice, water (3 cups), oil, 3 tablespoons mint, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt in a 4-to 5-quarts heavy pot (wide enough to hold artichokes in 1 layer with stems pointing upward) and bring to a simmer.
• Stand artichokes, stem ends up, in liquid and cover with a round of parchment paper. Simmer, covered with parchment and lid, until just tender when artichoke bottom is pierced with a knife, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes with a slotted spoon to a shallow serving dish. Boil cooking liquid until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. During last 2 minutes of boiling, whisk liquid until it emulsifies. Pour over artichokes and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons mint.
• What to drink:
• Yarden Galilee Cabernet Sauvignon '05

ARTICHOKES BRAISED WITH OLIVES AND MINT

Steps:

• Fill a bowl with water and add the fresh lemon juice. Remove the outer leaves of the artichokes and cut off the tops of the inner, more tender leaves. Discard. Cut the stem from the inner crown. Rub the cut pieces with lemon and place in the lemon water.With a small paring knife, remove the darker green, outer layer from the stems and bottom of the crowns and discard. Scrape the choke from the inner crown and discard. Return the cut pieces to the lemon water.Remove the pieces from the lemon water, pat dry, quarter the artichoke crowns and cut the stems in half.
• In a large, wide saute pan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the whole garlic clove and toast in the oil until fragrant and golden brown. Add the bay leaves and sprigs of fresh thyme, saute for a few minutes. Add the red chile flakes. Remove the garlic clove and discard.Lay the cut stems and crowns in the olive oil. Season the artichokes with salt to taste. Gently brown the artichokes, taking care to rotate to promote even cooking about 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the olives, anchovy fillets and tomato confit. Pour in the white wine. Braise the artichokes over medium-low heat until tender and cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Once the artichokes are cooked, remove from the heat. Chop and add the mint leaves and serve immediately.

BRAISED ARTICHOKES WITH TOMATOES AND MINT

Steps:

• Place tomatoes in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, crushing with your hands; add wine, red pepper flakes, 2 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup oil, and 2 cups water; set aside.
• Pulse anchovies and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add mint and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, stream in remaining 1/2 cup oil; process until a coarse paste forms. Set pesto aside.
• Remove several layers of dark-green outer leaves from artichokes (keep going until you get to the tender light-green leaves). Using a serrated knife, cut off top 1" of artichokes and trim stem ends. Rub cut ends with lemon halves to prevent browning. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to remove tough outer green layer from base and stem to reveal pale-green underneath; rub all over with lemon. Halve through stem and rub cut sides with more lemon. Use a spoon to scoop out choke, then pull out spiky inner leaves; rub insides with lemon. Rub reserved pesto all over artichoke halves and place artichokes in a single layer inside reserved pot, submerging in tomato mixture.
• Bring to a simmer over medium-low and cook, turning artichokes occasionally, until hearts are fork-tender, 55-65 minutes. Transfer artichokes to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
• Increase heat to medium, bring sauce to a boil, and cook until slightly thickened, 10-15 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Spoon over artichokes.

FRIED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS WITH PICHOLINE OLIVE DRESSING

Steps:

• To cook the artichokes, prepare a bowl with cold water and 3 sliced lemons to store the artichokes in after they have been peeled to prevent discoloration.
• Using a paring knife, remove the outer leaves and trim off the stem of each artichoke, and place in lemon water until ready to use.
• In a medium size pot, combine the celery, garlic, white wine, juice of 2 lemons, parsley, thyme, chicken stock, and salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Add the artichokes and cover them with a dishtowel to submerse the artichokes in the liquid. Cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until fork tender. When finished cooking, remove artichokes from liquid, and let cool to room temperature.
• Once they have cooled, remove any inner leaves and choke that are remaining. Slice the artichoke bottoms into four pieces.
• To bread the artichokes, set up the flour, lightly beaten eggs, and bread crumbs in separate dishes. Dredge the cut artichoke bottoms first in the flour, then in the eggs, and finally in the bread crumbs. Repeat this process until all pieces are breaded. Refrigerate until ready to fry.
• To prepare the dressing, combine the olives and olive juice in a food processor. Process until ground. Add the lemon juice, sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, and egg yolk, and pulse until all ingredients are mixed together. While pulsing, drizzle in the olive oil to create an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To fry the artichoke bottoms, use a heavy-bottomed saucepot, filled half way up with corn oil. Place over medium high heat and bring oil to 350 degrees F. Use a candy thermometer to determine the temperature. When oil is hot, add the artichokes a few pieces at a time and fry until golden brown. Remove from oil, drain on paper towels, and season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, fill a ramekin with the picholine dressing. Line a platter with romaine lettuce, and place the fried artichokes on top. Garnish the platter with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs.

SAUTEED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine and toss drained and rinsed artichoke bottoms with lemon juice. Set aside.
• In a large frying pan over medium heat, sweat onions in oil until translucent. Add tomatoes and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in Italian seasoning and shredded basil leaves. Add in artichoke bottoms with lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover pan and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• To serve, remove artichoke bottoms and place on serving plate so the hollow side is up. Fill with tomato-onion mixture.

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup each water and white wine, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 wide strips lemon zest and 2 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil to a simmer in a large skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring halfway through, until the artichokes are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and add 2 minced garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons each olive oil and chopped parsley and mint. Cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, 1 to 2 more minutes.

ARTICHOKES BRAISED WITH GARLIC AND THYME

Steps:

• Working with 1 artichoke at a time, cut off top inch of artichoke and gently pull open center. Scoop out sharp leaves and fuzzy choke from center with a melon-ball cutter or a spoon. Trim bottom 1/4 inch of stem (if present), keeping stem attached, and peel stem. Put artichoke in a large bowl of cold water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Remove artichokes from water and push 3 parsley sprigs into center of each. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then add artichokes, thyme sprigs, garlic, 1/4 cup water, pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover pot and braise artichokes, turning occasionally, until artichokes are browned in spots and bases are tender when pierced with a knife, about 35 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes, thyme, and garlic to a platter. Add remaining 3/4 cup water to pot and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Pour pan juices (they will be dark) into a small bowl and stir in extra-virgin olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Squeeze pulp from 2 of garlic cloves into juices and mash into sauce with a fork.
• Divide artichokes and remaining garlic cloves among 6 plates and drizzle with sauce. Garlic cloves can be peeled and spread on crusty bread.

ARTICHOKES BRAISED IN OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine parsley, mint, garlic, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Rub artichoke hearts inside and out with herb mixture. Place them stem-side up in a medium pot. Add remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and enough water to come halfway up the sides of the artichoke hearts.
• Place pot on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer until artichokes are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining herbs. Cool completely in the cooking liquid.
• Divide artichoke hearts onto four plates, and serve at room temperature with some of the liquid spooned over the top.