Chargrilled Artichokes With Lemon Food

GRILLED GARLIC ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with cold water. Squeeze the juice from one lemon wedge into the water. Trim the tops from the artichokes, then cut in half lengthwise, and place halves into the bowl of lemon water to prevent them from turning brown.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Add artichokes to boiling water, and cook for about 15 minutes. Drain. Squeeze the remaining lemon wedges into a medium bowl. Stir in the olive oil and garlic, and season with salt and pepper.
• Brush the artichokes with a coating of the garlic dip, and place them on the preheated grill. Grill the artichokes for 5 to 10 minutes, basting with dip and turning frequently, until the tips are a little charred. Serve immediately with the remaining dip.

CHARGRILLED ARTICHOKES WITH LEMON

Steps:

• First set a bowl of cold water to the side, and squeeze in the juice of one of the lemons. To prepare the artichokes, remove the outer leaves with a small sharp knife. Keep going through the layers until you reach the paler, greenish-yellow leaves. Trim the stalks to about 5cm, then cut the heads into quarters. As you prepare each one, rub all of its cut sides with one of the squeezed lemon halves, then place in the bowl of lemony water.
• Remove long strips of zest from the other lemon. In a large saucepan, bring a few inches of water to the boil. Add 100ml of the vinegar and the artichokes, and simmer for 15-18 mins, depending on the size of the artichokes, until tender. Drain and tip into a bowl, toss with 2 tbsp oil, and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper.
• Heat a griddle pan over a medium heat until hot. Griddle the artichoke quarters, a few at a time, until golden and charred at the edges.
• In another saucepan, warm the olive oil, lemon zest and peppercorns together until the zest starts to sizzle. Fish it out with a slotted spoon once it turns bright yellow. Warm the remaining vinegar in another pan until almost boiling.
• Pack the artichokes and lemon zest into jars or heatproof containers, pour over the warmed vinegar first, then top up with the warm oil to cover. Seal while warm, then allow to cool. Keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.

GRILLED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Prepare the artichokes by trimming off the tops and stems. Slice each artichoke in half and use a spoon to remove the fuzzy choke from the center. Immediately rub with lemon wedges to prevent discoloration.
• Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the salt, smashed garlic cloves, and lemon halves to the water, squeezing the lemons first. Add the artichokes and boil for 15-20 minutes until softened and fairly tender.
• Remove the artichoke halves from the water and let them dry on a baking sheet. Meanwhile, combine olive oil and minced garlic in a bowl. Brush each artichoke on all sides with the garlic and olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place artichokes on the grill cut-side up. Grill for 3-4 minutes, then flip and grill cut-side down for another 3-4 minutes until tender and charred. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

ROASTED SALMON & ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220ºC/425ºF/gas 7. Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper and rub with a little oil.
• Lay 8 pieces (roughly an arm's length each) of butcher's string at 5cm intervals widthways across the tray, then place one salmon fillet on top, skin side down.
• Toast the almonds in a dry frying pan until golden, tossing regularly, then tip into a food processor. Peel, roughly chop and add the garlic, finely grate in the lemon zest, then tear in the ciabatta. Season with black pepper, then pulse until finely chopped. Carefully layer the crumbs over the salmon.
• Halve 1 lemon. Trim the fresh artichoke stalks 2cm from the base. Peel away the tough outer leaves until you reach the paler ones that are tender enough to eat, then trim the heads to 3cm, rubbing with the cut lemon as you go to prevent discoloration.
• Halve them, scoop out and discard the hairy chokes, then finely slice. Drain and roughly slice the jarred artichoke hearts, reserving the oil.
• Drizzle 1 tablespoon of artichoke oil into a large frying pan on a high heat and fry all the artichokes for 2 minutes. Pick and roughly chop the mint leaves, scatter into the pan, then remove from the heat.
• Spoon the artichoke mixture evenly over the breadcrumb layer, drizzle with 1 more tablespoon of artichoke oil, then lay the other salmon fillet on top, skin side up. Arrange the bacon on top in a criss-cross pattern, and sprinkle over the thyme sprigs.
• Tie the string up and around both fillets to secure the filling. Drizzle over a little extra artichoke oil and sprinkle any excess crumbs back over.
• Place in the middle of the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the bacon and salmon skin are golden and crisp.
• Rest for 10 minutes, then serve with lemon wedges for squeezing over. Delicious with buttered new potatoes and a crisp green salad.

GRILLED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat.
• Break off the artichokes' small outside leaves. Cut off the top with a knife and trim the sharp points of the leaves with scissors, rubbing with cut lemon as you go to avoid discoloration. Squeeze the lemon halves into a bowl of cold water, soak the artichokes for 10 minutes, then wash with cold water to remove sand.
• Place artichokes in a large steamer insert over simmering water and steam until heart is tender, about 25 to 35 minutes depending upon size. Allow to cool. Cut in half lengthwise and remove choke with a spoon.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Stir in the white wine and lemon juice, keep warm.
• Grill the artichokes, basting with the butter mixture, until until golden on the surface and heated through, about 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the Spicy Smoked Tomato Mayonnaise.
• Special equipment: smoker/dehydrator
• Chef's Note: If you do not have access to a smoker/dehydrator, you can substitute 4 sun-dried tomatoes and 2 teaspoons ancho or pasilla powder for the tomatoes and pasillas, eliminating the tomatoes and pasilla peppers from the recipe.
• Dry the tomatoes and pasilla peppers in an oak smoker/dehydrator overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill, preferably wood fired with oak wood, for indirect heat cooking.
• Wrap garlic and onions loosely in 2 separate foil packets and roast/grill over indirect heat until they are soft, being careful not to burn them. The garlic should take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours; the onions should take about 30 to 45 minutes.
• In a food processor, puree the smoked pasilla peppers and tomatoes with the garlic and onions. Add the cayenne, chili powder, paprika and salt. Mix in the mayonnaise. Leftover mayonnaise will keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 or 4 days.
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 to 1 1/2 hours
• Inactive Prep Time: 8 hours

GRILLED ARTICHOKES WITH OLIVE OIL, LEMON, AND MINT

Steps:

• Squeeze juice from halved lemons into large bowl filled with cold water. Cut stem off 1 artichoke, leaving about 1 inch. Snap off outer 2 rows of leaves. Cut off top 1/3 of artichoke. Quarter artichoke lengthwise. Using small knife, cut out choke and prickly small leaves. Place artichoke in lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Drain artichokes, add to pot, and boil until crisp-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Transfer artichokes to rack and cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk oil, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and mint in small bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Brush artichokes with dressing. Grill until tender and lightly charred in spots, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. Transfer artichokes to platter. Drizzle with some of remaining dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BAKED ARTICHOKES WITH GARLIC AND LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine the olive oil, basil, minced garlic, lemon zest and juice, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper in a bowl. Mix until it becomes a paste.
• With kitchen scissors, trim all the sharp ends off of each leaf. Wash the artichoke well in cool water. Slice down the center to form two halves.
• Clean out all the fuzzy hairs and smaller leaves with a spoon then immediately rub all the cut areas with the zested and juiced lemon.
• Coat the baking dish with olive oil.
• Rub the paste all over the artichoke halves and inside the leaves.
• Place each artichoke half top side down in a baking dish.
• Pour the stock in the dish and cover with a lid or tin foil.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes or until soft and tender.
• Be sure to let cool for a few minutes before digging in!