Artichoke Bottoms Stuffed With Crabmeat Au Gratin Food

CRAB-STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, level the bottom of each artichoke and cut 3/4 in. from the top. Using kitchen scissors, snip off tips of outer leaves; brush cut edges with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. , Stand artichokes in a Dutch oven; add 2 in. of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until leaves near the center almost pull out easily. , Invert artichokes to drain. With a spoon, carefully scrape out the fuzzy center portion of artichokes and discard. , In a large bowl, combine the crab, cheese, bread crumbs, mayonnaise, green pepper, onion, salt and remaining lemon juice. Gently spread artichoke leaves apart; fill with stuffing. , Place in an ungreased 8-in. square baking dish; add 1/2 in. of warm water. Cover and bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until heated through and leaves near the outer edge pull out easily.

CRAB CAKE-STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Mix the crab meat, garlic, breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, seasoning blend, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt and few good grinds pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Pour in the olive oil and toss until the mixture is evenly coated and the texture of wet sand. Set aside.
• Fill a large bowl with cold water, squeeze in the juice of 1 of the lemon halves and then drop in both lemon halves. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, trim about 1 inch off the top with a serrated knife, then snap off the tough outer leaves around the stem (about 2 layers of leaves). Use kitchen shears to trim 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the thorny leaf tips. Cut off the stem completely so the artichoke can sit flat and upright. Cut the artichoke in half lengthwise through the stem using a chef's knife, then use a melon baller to remove the choke (the fuzzy "hair" in the very center of the artichoke). Rub the cut parts with a lemon half (from the bowl), then keep the artichoke in the lemon water while you trim the rest.
• Use your fingers to spread the leaves of each artichoke half, then stuff the crumb mixture between each. Fill the very center of each artichoke half with some of the breadcrumb mixture as well. Use kitchen twine to tie the artichoke halves back together, making sure to prevent the breadcrumbs from falling out.
• Set up a steamer basket over a large pot of simmering water, then add the stuffed artichokes upright (don't worry if they're snug). Cover with a lid and steam over medium-low heat, adding more water as needed, until the bottom of the artichoke is tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Within the last 5 minutes of cooking, preheat the oven to broil.
• Transfer the stuffed artichokes from the steamer basket to a rimmed baking sheet and remove the kitchen twine. Place the artichoke halves cut-side up. Watching carefully, broil until the breadcrumbs turn crisp and golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve with an extra dusting of seasoning blend and the lemon wedges.

ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Snap off most tough outer leaves from artichokes. Trim 1 1/2 inches from top. In pot of water, place artichokes, 1 1/2 lemons, thyme, peppercorns, and bay leaf. Cover with smaller-size lid to keep artichokes submerged. Cook over medium heat until hearts are tender when pierced with knife, about 30 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. When artichokes are tender, drain, remove remaining leaves, and discard all but the smallest, most tender ones. Set those aside. Remove choke completely with melon baller or spoon, and rub artichoke bottoms with remaining lemon half. In a glass pie pan or gratin dish, strew leaves and mix in half of bechamel. Lightly butter artichoke bottoms, season with salt and pepper, and place on top of bechamel. Place folded piece of prosciutto in each bottom; fill with a rounded mound of bechamel.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. Rub the tops with butter, and bake for 5 minutes more. Serve one or two bottoms per person along with some of the leaves.

STUFFED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice from bottoms of artichokes to level if necessary. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic, chives and oregano. Spoon into artichokes; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 22-26 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

CRAB STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Lightly oil baking sheet with olive oil and place in the oven to preheat.
• Trim and clean the artichokes by removing the lower 3 to 4 rows of outer leaves, and leaving 1/2-inch of stem. Trim the sharp tips off the remaining leaves with kitchen shears.
• In large pot, boil or steam artichokes 30 to 45 minutes, or until knife easily enters the base of the leaves. Remove from pan and let cool.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In medium mixing bowl, mix mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce. When smooth, season with salt and pepper, to taste. Mix in bread crumbs, tarragon, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, lemon zest, and crab meat until well blended.
• Remove leaves from cooled artichokes, and scoop out choke inside. Generously fill artichoke with crabmeat mixture (approximately 2 to 3 tablespoons per artichoke), until a small mound is present in each, Drizzle each lightly with olive oil.
• Bake stuffed artichokes for 20 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned.
• Serve immediately.

NEW ORLEANS CRABMEAT AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF.
• In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Add the onions and garlic; sauté for 3-5 min or until vegetables are wilted. Be careful not to brown.
• Sprinkle in the flour, blending well into the mixture.
• Using a wire whisk, add the hot cream into the saucepan, stirring constantly until thick cream sauce is achieved.
• Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Add the white wine, lemon juice, nutmeg, and hot sauce, stir to combine.
• Sprinkle in half of the Cheddar cheese, stirring the mixture constantly.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. If mixture becomes too thick, add a small amount of hot water or whipping cream.
• Place equal parts of the crabmeat in the bottom of 6 au gratin dishes, top with sauce-enough to cover and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 10 min or until cheese is bubbly.
• OR.
• Spread crabmeat on the bottom of an 8-inch baking dish, top with sauce, and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
• Bake for 30 min or until cheese is bubbly and melted.

SPINACH STUFFED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• Prepare artichokes or buy canned bottoms. To prepare remove stem and then break the leaves of the base. Artichoke should have a conical shape when done. Cut off the core of the artichoke above the base. Base should be trimmed with vegetable peeler until all of the fibrous material is removed. Place the core and bottom in lemon water. The choke will be removed after cooking.
• Arrange artichoke pieces in one layer in saucepan with little oil, water, lemon juice and a dash of salt. Cook for 20-25 minutes covered. Once tender remove bottoms with spoon and pour cooking liquid over the bottoms.
• Spinach Sauté:.
• Cook in skillet with dash of salt 3-4 minutes until wilted. Drain. Using a spoon, press spinach to extract water. Chop the spinach and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat butter in skillet until dark brown then add spinach. Sauté just until heated. Reheat the artichoke bottoms in their liquid and drain. Arrange them in a gratin dish and spoon spinach into each one. Press the Swiss cheese on top of spinach.
• Gratin Sauce:.
• Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan and add flour. Mix with whisk and cook on medium heat for 10 seconds. Add the milk all at once and mix with whisk. Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir until sauce boils. Reduce heat and boil for 30 seconds. Add cream and remove from heat.
• Preheat the broiler. Coat the artichokes with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Heat under broiler for 3-4 minutes or until browned.

ARTICHOKE GRATIN - GIADA DE LAURENTIIS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Warm the olive oil in a heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the artichoke hearts, parsley, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and cook until the artichoke hearts are starting to brown at the edges, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and wine and simmer for 3 minutes. Transfer the artichoke mixture to a 2-quart baking dish.
• Melt the butter in the same skillet used to cook the artichokes. In a small bowl mix the melted butter with the bread crumbs. Stir in the Parmesan and top the artichokes with the bread crumbs. Bake until the top is golden, about 10 minutes.