Baby Artichokes A La ProvenÇal Food

ROASTED ARTICHOKE HEARTS PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the artichoke hearts, olives, capers, orange zest, tomatoes and garlic with the wine, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and roast, stirring once or twice, until the tomatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a platter, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with more salt and top with the basil.

ARTICHOKES PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Cook 1/2 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves and a pinch of salt in a skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup white wine and reduce by half. Add 2 chopped tomatoes, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 tablespoons water, 1 strip lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, covered, 6 minutes. Stir in chopped olives, basil and salt and pepper.

ARTICHOKES à LA BARIGOULE A CLASSIC RECIPE FROM PROVENCE

Steps:

• Fill up a medium bowl with water and add the lemon juice.
• Clean the artichokes: cut off top 1/3 of the artichoke, including spiny tops.
• Remove the outer leaves by peeling them back until they snap.
• Using a paring knife, peel stem to remove the fibrous outer layer.
• Remove any remaining tough, fibrous, dark green parts on the outside of the artichoke heart.
• With a spoon, scoop out the chokes and clean the inside of the artichoke.
• Immediately put artichokes in a bowl of water with lemon.
• In a medium sauté pan, warm up the olive oil and bacon.
• When the fat the starts to render, add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes until it starts to soften.
• Add the carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
• Drain the artichokes, shaking off any excess water, and add them to the pan.
• Add the thyme, bay leaf, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir well.
• Add the wine and cook for 2-3 minutes until the alcohol evaporates. Lower the heat, cover, and cook 40-45 minutes, until the artichokes can easily be pierced, adding a little water if they dry out.
• Discard the bay leaf, adjust seasoning to taste, add a grinding of black pepper, and transfer to a serving dish.
• Serve warm.

ROASTED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Prepare artichokes. Remove the tough outer leaves of the artichokes and trim the stems. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer green layer from the stem. Cut off the top third of the head to remove the tough ends of the leaves, then split it down the middle. Rub with lemon as you work so they don't turn brown.
• Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic. Lay the artichoke halves cut-side up in a roasting dish and drizzle with the olive oil mixture. Roast in the oven until the artichokes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• To serve, top with the cheese and garnish with the parsley.

PROVENçAL ARTICHOKE RAGOUT

Steps:

• How to trim artichokes: Fill a bowl with water, and add the juice of 1/2 lemon. Cut the stems off the artichokes, and with a sharp knife, cut away the tops - about 1/2 inch from the top for baby artichokes, 1 inch for larger artichokes. Rub the cut parts with the other half of the lemon. Break off the tough outer leaves until you reach the lighter green leaves near the middle. With a paring knife, trim the bottom of the bulb right above the stem by holding the knife at an angle and cutting around the artichoke, until you reach the light flesh beneath the tough bottoms of the leaves. Cut small baby artichokes in half, or large artichokes into quarters, and cut away the chokes if the artichokes are mature. Immediately place in the bowl of acidulated water.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet or casserole over medium heat, and add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring, until tender, about three to five minutes. Add the red pepper and about 1/4 teaspoon salt, and stir together for three to five minutes until the pepper begins to soften. Add the garlic, and stir together for another minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the tomatoes and a little more salt, and cook, stirring from time to time, for 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant. Add the artichokes, thyme, bay leaf and enough water to cover the artichokes halfway, and bring to a simmer. Add salt and pepper, then cover and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, until the artichokes are tender and the sauce fragrant. Check from time to time and add water if necessary. Add the lemon juice, taste and adjust salt and pepper.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES PROVENçALE

Steps:

• Using a small regular or swivel-bladed paring knife, peel the artichokes. Cut them into quarter-inch thick slices. There should be about three cups.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the artichoke slices. Cook, stirring and tossing in the oil, about two minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring and tossing, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cover. Cook about eight to 10 minutes and serve.

CHICKEN PROVENçAL WITH OLIVES & ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Tip the chicken into a large bowl or dish and add the garlic, wine, 2 tbsp oil and the thyme. Season with 2 tbsp flaky salt and mix well until completely coated. Cover and chill for at least a few hours, but preferably overnight.
• Heat grill to high. Arrange the plum tomatoes on a tray, cut-side up, drizzle with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and grill for 15 mins, or until charred. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large casserole dish or flameproof roasting tin. Scrape the marinade off the chicken pieces back into the bowl and fry the chicken in batches for about 15 mins until the skin is golden and crisp - watch out, the oil has a tendency to sputter. Remove the chicken from the dish and pour off the oil. Place the dish back on the heat, add the tomato purée and cook for 2 mins, then add the herbs, fennel seeds, remaining marinade and chicken stock. Bring up to the boil, add the grilled tomatoes, then simmer gently for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 4. Nestle the chicken pieces back into the dish, then stir them in to coat in the sauce. Scatter over the celery, button onions and artichokes. Bring up to a simmer, pop the lid on, then transfer to the oven and cook for 1 hr. Remove the lid and stir in the olives. Season to taste and leave everything to settle for 15 mins before serving straight from the dish.