Baked Artichokes Stuffed With Anchovies And Garlic Food

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add the breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, anchovy, chile flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a large bowl. Finely grate the zest of 1 lemon into the bowl. Squeeze the juice of the lemon in a small bowl with the oil, then drizzle the lemon juice mixture into the breadcrumb mixture and mix with a fork until well combined and the mixture resembles wet sand. Stir in the Parmesan and set aside until ready to use.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lemon and drop in the lemon halves. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, cut off all but 1/2-inch of the stem. Use a serrated knife to slice about 1 inch off of the top. Use kitchen shears to trim the point off each leaf, removing 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Use your fingers to gently pull open the center leaves of the artichoke then use a spoon to scoop out and discard the fuzzy choke in the middle. (Note that removing the choke takes some effort and will make eating the final product much more enjoyable.) Submerge the cleaned artichoke in the lemon water to prevent browning and repeat with the remaining artichokes.
• Working with one artichoke at a time, remove from the water and use a clean kitchen towel to pat dry. Gently pull apart the leaves on each layer and stuff with the breadcrumbs over the bowl to avoid a mess, pressing lightly as you stuff (you will use about 2/3 cup stuffing per artichoke). Gently set the stuffed artichoke in a 9-by-9-inch casserole dish (do not use glass) or a large cast-iron skillet, standing it up on the flat stem if possible, or gently resting on the side if not. Note that you will want the artichokes to be snug in the dish to remain upright during baking. Repeat with the remaining artichokes and breadcrumbs.
• Pour the wine and 1/2 cup water into the bottom of the pan. Slice the remaining lemon into rounds and nestle them into the liquid. Tightly cover the dish with foil and bake until the artichokes leaves are tender and can be easily pulled off, 60 to 75 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and increase the temperature to 500 degrees F.
• Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the artichokes from the dish with tongs and place onto a serving plate. Serve with the cooking liquid lemon slices.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Mix 3 cups breadcrumbs, 3 grated garlic cloves, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1 cup each grated parmesan, pecorino, chopped parsley and olive oil in a bowl. Trim 4 large artichokes (see Cook's Note), removing the stems. Separate the leaves; stuff the crumb mixture between each. Stand upright in a steamer basket over simmering water, cover and steam over medium-low heat, adding more water as needed, until tender, about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and some of the cooking liquid.

EMMANUEL'S BAKED ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Turn drained artichokes upside down to get all the liquid out. Halve artichoke hearts, lengthwise. Drizzle a small casserole dish with a little extra-virgin olive oil, and spread it around the dish with a pastry brush. Arrange the halved artichoke hearts with tops up, bottoms down, in a layered pattern in the dish. Squeeze the juice of 1/4 lemon over the hearts.
• Preheat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add oil and butter to the skillet. When butter melts into oil, add garlic and anchovies. Using the back of a wooden spoon, work anchovies into oil as they break up. When anchovies have dissolved into oil, add bread crumbs to the pan and lightly toast, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add parsley, cheese and black pepper, stir to combine and remove pan from heat. Top artichokes with an even layer of bread topping and set in the middle of oven. Bake 10 minutes until artichokes are warm and topping is deep golden brown in color.

THE BEST STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut top 1/4 of an artichoke off and discard. Trim off the top 1/2 inch from remaining leaves. Cut off bottom inch from stalk to create a flat bottom. Turn artichoke upside down and bang on surface to loosen the leaves. Zest 3/4 teaspoon of lemon zest from the lemon and set aside. Cut lemon in half and rub cut leaves and stem of artichoke with lemon. Repeat artichoke prep with remaining artichokes.
• Combine reserved lemon zest with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and stir well.
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly into all the artichoke leaves, avoiding the thistle leaves in the direct center. Work mixture evenly into each crevice of each artichoke until all of the mixture is used.
• Pour water in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Add remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Set artichokes in the pot so that they are touching, so that they may remain upright during cooking. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the leaves release very easily, about 1 hour.
• Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with more parsley if desired. Serve warm or room temperature.

GARLIC ANCHOVY ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• Trim artichokes into hearts:
• Halve 1 lemon and add halves to a large bowl of cold water, squeezing to release juice.
• Cut off top inch of 1 artichoke with a serrated knife and bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base (keep stem attached). Discard several more layers in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves.
• Cut remaining leaves flush with top of artichoke bottom with serrated knife. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke with a paring knife.
• Trim end of stem to expose core, then peel side of stem down to pale inner core. Put in lemon water while preparing remaining artichokes.
• Remove 3 (3- by 1-inch) strips of zest from remaining lemon with a vegetable peeler and squeeze enough juice to measure 1 tablespoon. Bring water (1 cup), oil, zest, and lemon juice to a simmer in a 3- to 5-quart pot wide enough to fit artichoke hearts in 1 layer. Stand artichokes in pot and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cover artichokes with a round of parchment paper, then a lid, and simmer over medium-low heat until just tender when pierced with a knife, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes to a dish and reserve braising liquid. When artichokes are cool enough to handle, halve lengthwise. Scoop out and discard inner chokes (fuzzy center and any sharp leaves). Cut each half into 2 pieces.
• Assemble and bake artichokes:
• Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in upper third. Butter a 2 1/2 to 3-quart shallow baking dish.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook anchovies and half of garlic, stirring and mashing anchovies into oil with a wooden spoon, until garlic is golden, about 30 seconds. Add artichokes and gently stir until coated. Spoon mixture into baking dish and drizzle with 1/2 cup braising liquid and lemon juice.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in same skillet over medium heat and cook remaining garlic, stirring, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Stir in breadcrumbs and salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat. Stir in cheese and parsley. Sprinkle crumb mixture over top of artichokes and drizzle with a little more oil. Bake until topping is golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

ARTICHOKE, ANCHOVY AND LEMON PASTA

Steps:

• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season the boiling water with salt so it tastes as salty as a broth; it is important that the pasta water it is not too salty because it will help season the sauce. Add the pasta and cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions for al dente pasta.
• For the breadcrumbs: Put the butter and anchovies in a small nonstick pan and cook over medium-high heat, swirling the butter and stirring the anchovies until the butter starts to brown, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the panko and cook, stirring continuously and tossing, until the breadcrumbs are golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the lemon zest and set aside.
• For the artichokes: Line a plate with paper towels. Heat a large saute pan or braiser over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and artichokes, cut-side down, and cook until the artichokes have a dark, golden brown crust, about 5 minutes. Transfer to the prepared plate and sprinkle with salt.
• Put the butter in the same pan and cook over medium heat until melted. Add the garlic and anchovies and cook, stirring frequently, until the anchovies start to turn dark brown and the garlic is very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water and stir to emulsify. Add the pasta and cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce coats the pasta and the flavors come together, 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the lemon juice and toss to coat.
• Divide the pasta into bowls and top with the artichokes, parsley if using and breadcrumbs.

ROASTED ARTICHOKES WITH ANCHOVY MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Prepare the artichokes: Fill a large bowl with cold water. Cut the lemon into quarters, and squeeze the juice from each quarter into the water. (This acidulated water will keep the artichokes from discoloring.)
• Snap off a few of the tough outer leaves (bracts) near the stem of each artichoke. Cut each artichoke in half from top to bottom, and lay the halves cut-side down on a cutting board.
• Using a sharp vegetable peeler and working one half at a time, trim the rough edges and the stems. Cut 1/4 inch from the bottom of the stem and 1/2 inch from the top of each half. Turn the halves over and use a teaspoon or melon baller to remove the hairy "choke." Place trimmed artichoke halves in the lemon water. Leave them in the lemon water until ready to cook.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add drained artichoke halves and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove and place artichoke halves cut-side up in a stainless steel roasting pan or ceramic baking dish, in one layer.
• Tuck thyme sprigs under artichokes, and sprinkle artichokes with salt and pepper. Drizzle generously with olive oil, about 1 1/2 teaspoons per halved artichoke. Bake, uncovered and brushing with oil from the pan occasionally, until nicely browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
• As artichokes roast, make the anchovy mayonnaise: Put mayonnaise in a bowl and stir in chopped anchovies and capers, lemon zest and juice, garlic, cayenne and a little salt and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
• When artichokes are ready, transfer to a serving platter or individual plates. Brush lightly with oil from the pan. Sprinkle with parsley and serve anchovy mayonnaise and lemon wedges, if you like, on the side.

BAKED STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim artichokes and remove chokes. Add juice and salt to a large kettle of boiling water.
• Add artichokes and bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium and boil, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes or until a leaf can be pulled out easily.
• Drain artichokes upside-down on paper towels.
• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• In a small bowl combine crumbs, 1/3 cup oil, garlic, oregano and pepper.
• Spoon one-fourth of the mixture into the center of each artichoke. Brush all over with 2 tablespoons oil.
• Place in an 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish.
• In a measuring cup combine water and bouillon; pour into bottom of baking dish.
• Bake artichokes for 20 minutes or until heated through.
• In a small saucepan over low heat melt butter. Stir for 3 to 5 minutes or just until butter begins to brown. Do not burn.
• Remove from heat; add lemon juice. Place artichokes on individual serving plates.
• Spoon 1 tablespoon lemon-butter over the top of each artichoke. Serve remaining butter separately.