Artichokes With Orzo Macaroni Food

ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Cook orzo in a 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain in a colander.
• While orzo cooks, lightly toast pine nuts in a dry small skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool 1 minute, then coarsely chop.
• Drain artichoke hearts in a large sieve and rinse well. Pull off leaves from bases of hearts and quarter bases. Rinse leaves and bases well, then drain thoroughly.
• Stir together oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add orzo, pine nuts, artichokes (leaves and bases), parsley, and zest and toss to combine.

BAKED ORZO WITH ARTICHOKES AND PEAS

Steps:

• Make the béchamel and set aside.
• Prepare the artichokes. Fill a bowl with water and add the lemon juice. Cut away the stem and the top third of each artichoke, break off the leaves and trim them down to the bottoms, placing them in the water as you go along. Quarter them and slice large quarters about 1/4 inch thick. Save the leaves and steam them; serve them as a first course or a side dish.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and dry on a clean dish towel. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sliced artichoke hearts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the orzo. Cook 5 minutes, add the peas and continue to boil for another 4 minutes, until the orzo is just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the artichokes, herbs, béchamel and Parmesan and stir together until the sauce coats all of the other ingredients. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes, until lightly colored on top.

ARTICHOKES WITH ORZO MACARONI

Steps:

• Trim the stems off the artichokes. Cook the artichokes, covered, in boiling salted water until tender -about 30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer will pierce through an artichoke to the bottom of the pot and come away easily, without lifting the artichoke. Drain and cool slightly.
• Using a sharp, thin paring knife, cut out the base of each artichoke, removing both the choke and the heart, producing a round piece about 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Scrape out the choke with a spoon. Cut the heart into 1/4-inch slices and reserve. Using a sharp, heavy knife, carefully cut the remaining upper portion of the artichokes in half vertically and arrange the halves around the edge of a large, deep platter, with their insides facing up and their bases toward the center of the platter.
• Put the olive oil and garlic cloves into a large skillet and simmer over low heat until the garlic turns a pale gold, about 5 minutes. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegars, sugar, salt and pepper and simmer 2 minutes, mixing well. Add the artichoke heart slices, mix and simmer 2 minutes more.
• Carry the skillet to the serving platter and, using a teaspoon, spoon a bit of the liquid in the skillet into the cup formed by the inside of each artichoke, leaving behind about half of the liquid in the skillet.
• Add the cooked orzo to the skillet, stirring to mix the orzo with the rest of the ingredients. Check the seasoning for salt and for vinegar. Carefully pile the mixed orzo in the center of the platter.

ORZO WITH ARTICHOKE PESTO AND GRILLED CORN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place in a large serving bowl.
• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill.
• Brush the corn with the oil, using a pastry brush. Grill, turning frequently, until the corn is tender, about 10 minutes. Allow the corn to cool slightly. Remove the kernels with a large knife and add to the serving bowl.
• For the pesto: In a food processor, combine 2 cups artichokes, oil, walnuts, oregano, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Blend, scraping down the sides of the bowl, as needed, until the mixture is thick and smooth.
• Chop the remaining 1 cup artichoke hearts into 3/4-inch pieces and add to the serving bowl. Add the pesto, tomatoes and Parmesan. Toss until all the ingredients are coated. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.
• Cook's Note: To toast the walnuts, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely before using.

ORZO WITH CHICKEN AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in pancetta, and cook until browned. Remove to paper towels.
• Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into skillet. Stir in onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent. Increase heat to medium high, pour in white wine; cook about 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low, stir in chicken, artichoke hearts, and spinach. Cover, and cook to warm through.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add orzo pasta and cook until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and stir into chicken mixture.
• Stir pine nuts and balsamic vinegar into pasta.

ARTICHOKE ORZO PILAF

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, saute leek and orzo in oil for 3 minutes or until leek is tender. Add the broth, water and Italian seasoning; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

GREEK ORZO ARTICHOKE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Drain artichoke hearts, reserving liquid.
• In large bowl combine pasta, artichoke hearts, garlic, tomato, cucumber, onion, feta, olives, parsley, lemon juice, oregano and lemon pepper. Toss and chill for 1 hour in refrigerator.
• Just before serving, drizzle reserved artichoke marinade over salad.

ORZO TOMATO ARTICHOKE SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and basil together in a small bowl for the dressing.
• Combine cooked orzo, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, olives, and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Stir dressing into the orzo mixture until all ingredients are well coated. Can be served warm or chilled.