Braised Artichokes A La Barigoule Food

ARTICHOKES A LA BARIGOULE

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with water, and add lemon juice. Peel the dark green outer leaves from the artichokes, and peel stem to remove fibrous outer layer. Cut off spiny tops of leaves. Cut artichokes lengthwise into quarters, and remove chokes. Immediately add artichokes to water.
• In a large pot, warm olive oil over medium low heat. Add the garlic, parsley stems, onion, fennel, carrots and celery. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Gently cook vegetables until onions are translucent but not brown, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Add white wine, and cook until reduced by 3/4.
• Add artichokes to pot, and pour broth or water over them. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until artichokes are tender, offering no resistance when pierced with a knife, about 35 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Discard parsley stems. Add whole parsley leaves to pot, and let wilt slightly. Spoon artichokes and vegetables onto plates with a little of the cooking liquid.

BRAISED STUFFED ARTICHOKE A LA BARIGOULE

Steps:

• Use scissors to remove the thorny ends of the artichoke leaves. Use a knife to remove the stem so the artichokes will sit flat. In a heavy pot, combine the onion, carrot and garlic with 4 tablespoons of the olive oil over low heat and cook until the onion is tender and gold, about 10 minutes. Add the white wine and simmer 2 minutes. Add the artichokes, cover, and cook about 1 hour, until tender. Remove the artichokes from the pot and set aside; reserve the broth.
• Put the mashed potatoes in a mixing bowl. Mince the basil, and in another bowl combine it well with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Whisk 3 tablespoons of the basil mixture into the potatoes, add salt and pepper and set aside. Use a spoon to remove the thistly choke from the center of each artichoke. Spoon the potato mixture into the center of each and set aside.
• Return the broth in the pot to the stove over medium heat. Add the asparagus and simmer 10 minutes. Add the tomato and olives and simmer 2 minutes. Put the artichokes back in the pot and cook until completely warm, about 5 minutes. Put each artichoke in the center of a shallow bowl. Whisk the remaining basil paste into the broth, gently ladle it around the artichokes, and serve.