Baby Artichokes Elegant And Easy First Course Food

BABY ARTICHOKES, ELEGANT AND EASY FIRST COURSE

Steps:

• Boil artichokes, completely submerging in salted water until tender, 10-20 minutes, depending on their size. Drain well and cool.
• Discard tough outer leaves, cut off stem so that the artichoke will stand by itself on a plate.
• Cut across the top part of the artichoke, 1/2" or so, and use scissors to decoratively cut across a few of the remaining outside leaves to resemble a "flower". Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Mix mayonnaise, mustard, kosher salt and pepper to taste.
• When ready to serve, use a spoon to place a thick line of the mayonnaise-mustard mixture off to one side of each individual small flat serving plate.
• Use a clean, unused comb, or similar, to draw wavy lines on the plate through the sauce. Place the cooked artichokes on the plate and sprinkle dill weed atop the "wavy" sauce, and serve.

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.

DEEP FRIED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl halfway with water. Squeeze the lemon halves into the water and add the lemons. Trim the stem of 1 artichoke. Starting at the base, bend the tough outer leaves back and pull off where they break naturally. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the dark green skin from the base. Halve the artichoke lengthwise and scoop out any choke. Add to the lemon water. Repeat with the remaining artichokes.
• Heat the oil in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat until a thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Drain the artichokes and pat dry. Working in 2 batches, add the artichokes to the hot oil and cook until they are tender and golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the fried artichokes to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Sprinkle with salt while artichokes are still warm and serve.

SAUTEED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Using a sharp paring knife, trim the outermost layer of leaves from each artichoke. Trim stems, and cut off top half of each artichoke. As you trim them, place them in a medium bowl; add lemon juice, and toss to coat.
• Transfer artichokes to a medium nonreactive saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover artichokes by 1 inch. Using a small heat-proof plate, weigh down the artichokes to keep them submerged. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer artichokes until fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain.
• Cut artichokes in half lengthwise. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add artichokes in a single layer, and cook until hot, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and parsley. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute longer. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

SOUTHERN ITALIAN BABY ARTICHOKES.

Steps:

• Juice 1 lemon into large bowl filled with cold water. Add remnant lemon also.
• Set bowl of water next to prep area.
• Juice 1 more lemon set juice aside.
• Take each artichoke and remove top few layers of dark green leaves exsposing slightly lighter more tender leaves underneath.
• Snap off artichoke long stems.
• With kitchen shears cut up 1/2 inch of the top of artichoke. Add to lemon water, otherwise they will darken.
• Boil enough water to cover artichokes with second lemon juice.
• Once boiling add artichokes for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Strain and pat dry.
• In metal pot, large enough to hold artichokes SNUGGLY heat 1 tblsp oil and 4 cloves of mashed garlic over low to medium heat, allow to become tender.
• Set artichokes stem side down into pot, make sure they are snug.
• Add enough olive oil to reach halfway up artichokes.
• Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes. ( Leaves should pull away fairly easily when done).
• Once cooked discard most of oil, leave enough to toss to coat and season generously with pepper and salt add 1 handful 1/2 cup of italian bread crumbs.

PAN ROASTED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Peel off and discard the tough outer petals of the artichokes; trim top and stem end and quarter (there should be no choke in the center, if there is remove it).
• Place artichokes in a bowl, drizzle with lemon juice, and cover with water.
• Use a wide, heavy, non-aluminum skillet, and heat 1/2 inch of olive oil over medium heat.
• Drain and blot the artichokes and add to skillet when oil is nearly smoking; season with salt and pepper, stirring to coat with oil.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until they just start to brown a little and are fork tender, about 5 to 7 minutes; stir in red pepper, garlic, and parsley and let cook a minute or two.
• Transfer to a platter, season with coarse salt and serve with lemon wedges, or drizzle with a tiny amount of red wine vinegar.
• Eat hot or room temperature.

PAN-ROASTED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Peel off and discard a few outer petals of the artichokes until you reach the pale, tender center. Trim the top and stem end, then quarter each artichoke. There should be no discernible choke, but if there is, remove it with a paring knife. Put the artichokes in a bowl of cold water to which the lemon juice has been added.
• In a wide, heavy, nonaluminum skillet, heat a 1/2 inch of olive oil over medium heat. Drain and blot the artichokes and, when the oil is nearly smoking, carefully add them to the skillet. Season well with salt and pepper, stirring to coat with oil. Let the artichokes brown slightly, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until they are tender when probed with a paring knife.
• Add the red pepper, garlic and parsley. Stir well and let sizzle for a minute or so. Transfer the artichokes to a platter, sprinkle with coarse salt and serve with lemon wedges, or sprinkle sparingly with red wine vinegar. Eat hot, or at room temperature.