Braised Artichokes With Ricotta And Spinach Stuffing Food

SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Mix together the spinach, artichokes, ricotta, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1/3 cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk together the half-and-half, mozzarella, remaining 4 ounces cream cheese, remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium microwave-safe bowl until smooth and combined. Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until warm and smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Spread 1/2 cup cheese sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Stuff a heaping tablespoon of the spinach mixture into each shell and arrange them in the baking dish seam-side up. Pour the remaining cheese sauce over the shells, cover with foil and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 13 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the olive oil, breadcrumbs and parsley, if using, in a small bowl until well combined. Remove the foil from the baking dish and sprinkle the mixture over the shells. Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly, about 10 minutes.

BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim 6 medium artichokes (see Cook's Note), leaving the stems intact. Halve lengthwise. Cook 2 each sliced carrots, celery stalks and leeks in a pot with 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat until tender, about 12 minutes. Add 3 sliced garlic cloves; cook 2 more minutes. Add the artichokes in a single layer; add 2 teaspoons salt, 2 bay leaves, 3 thyme sprigs, 1 rosemary sprig, 1 1/2 cups white wine, and water to cover. Lay a round of parchment paper on the artichokes and simmer until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the liquid.

BRAISED SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a very large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add 1/3 of the spinach and saute until it begins to wilt, about 1 to 2 minutes. Continue adding the spinach 1 handful at a time, sauteing just until it begins to wilt before adding more. Add the soy sauce and crushed red pepper. Saute over high heat until spinach wilts. Season the mixture, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and serve.

SPINACH DIP STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a large, wide pot over medium heat. Add half of the garlic and half of the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the spinach, in batches if necessary, and cook, tossing, until wilted. Transfer to a cutting board and chop. Transfer to a bowl and cool slightly. Add the panko, mozzarella, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.
• Cut the stems off of the artichokes so that you have a flat base, reserving the stems. Cut the top 1 1/2 inches off the artichokes with a serrated knife and rub the surface with half of the lemon. Use kitchen shears to cut any remaining pointy tips from the artichoke leaves. Starting from the base, gently pull a leaf away from the center and stuff in a little bit of the spinach filling. Continue to stuff the leaves, working inward to the center of the artichoke, until it is no longer possible to pull the leaves away. Repeat with the remaining artichokes.
• Arrange the artichokes in a baking dish and fill the dish with about 1 inch of warm water. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake until the leaves pull out easily and the flesh is tender, 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, take the reserved artichoke stems and trim away all of the outer woody green parts, leaving just the pale green cores. Chop the cores. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the remaining garlic, red pepper flakes and the stems. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the stems are crisp-tender and the butter is fragrant with garlic, about 6 minutes. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir in the parsley; season with salt.
• Serve the warm artichokes drizzled with the garlic-lemon butter; serve any remaining garlic-lemon butter on the side for dipping.

BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut each of the artichokes in half; remove the toughest outer leaves, use a spoon to remove the choke, and trim the bottom.
• Put 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. When it melts and foam subsides, add artichokes, cut side down. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add stock (it should come about halfway up the sides of the artichokes), bring to a boil, and cover; turn heat to medium-low. Cook for about 20 minutes or until tender, checking every 5 or 10 minutes to make sure there is enough liquid in the pan, adding more stock as necessary. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and transfer artichokes to serving platter.
• Raise heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a sauce. Stir in lemon zest and juice and remaining tablespoon butter; taste and adjust seasoning. Serve artichokes drizzled with sauce.

SAVORY SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE STUFFING - EMERIL LAGASSE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the spinach and cook until just wilted, about 30 seconds. Drain and rinse with cold water. Once cool, squeeze as much water from spinach as possible, then roughly chop, and reserve.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, 2 teaspoons of Italian Essence, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cook, stirring, until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the artichokes and cook, stirring, another 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Combine the eggs, cream, chicken stock, lemon juice, remaining 1 tablespoon Italian Essence, remaining 2 teaspoons salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the bread, spinach, artichoke mixture, brie, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and parsley and stir to combine. If bread does not absorb all of liquid immediately then let rest until this happens, about 20 minutes.
• Pour the bread pudding mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan over the top and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake until firm in the center and golden brown, about 1 hour. Serve warm.