Cooked Artichokes Food

COOKED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim the artichoke with a serrated knife: cut the stem flush with the bottom of the artichoke; cut 1 inch off the top of the artichoke, and trim off the prickly leaf tips. As you work rub cut surfaces with the lemon half to keep them from discoloring.
• Place each artichoke in a microwave cooking bag, closing the bag tightly, or on a six-inch sheet of PV plastic wrap, folding the plastic to enclose the artichoke and sealing it tightly. Arrange the artichokes in a ring on the microwave carousel or on a large plate. Cook at 100 percent power (high setting). In a full-size oven (600 watts or more), one artichoke will take 9 minutes, two 11 minutes, and four 15 minutes. In a small oven (under 500 watts), one artichoke will take 12 minutes and two 20 minutes. Four won't fit in a small oven.
• To check for doneness, press the bottom of an artichoke with a fingernail; it should give. Remove from the oven. Let stand 5 minutes. Prick the plastic with a knife to release the steam. Unwrap carefully.

ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill the pan with just enough water to cover bottom. Bring to a full boil over high heat. While water is heating, trim and discard the stems and tough outer leaves of artichokes. Tuck slivers of butter and slices of garlic into artichoke leaves.
• When water is boiling, place steamer insert in pot and set artichokes in steamer, stem-side down. Cover pot with lid and allow artichokes to steam for approximately 20 minutes, until tender.

BASIC BOILED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Select a kettle or pot large enough to hold all the artichokes you are cooking. Half fill it with water and set it over high heat to boil. Meanwhile, trim the artichokes.
• Rinse the artichokes, slice the stem off flush with the base so the artichokes will stand level. Rub the cut areas with lemon. Slice off the top inch of each artichoke and rub the cut area with lemon. Using kitchen shears snip off the top half inch of each leaf. Place the artichokes base side down in the boiling water, lower heat to simmer and weight the tops of the artichokes with a dish or pot lid that fits into the pot to keep the artichokes submerged.
• Simmer the artichokes until the base can easily be pierced with a knife point, 20 to 40 minutes. Remove the artichokes from the water and turn upside-down in a collander to drain.

COOKED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill a 2- to 3-quart saucepan three-fourths full of cold water, then whisk in flour, oil, salt, and juice of 1 lemon half. (Do not heat.)
• Cut off stem of 1 artichoke, then trim 1/4 inch from end of stem to expose core. Trim sides of stem down to pale core, then rub with remaining lemon half. Drop stem into water in pan.
• Cut off top 2 inches of leaves from same artichoke with a serrated knife. Bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base, then discard several more layers of leaves until exposed leaves are pale yellow. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke with a sharp paring knife, then cut remaining leaves flush with top of artichoke bottom. Rub artichoke bottom all over with same lemon half, then drop artichoke bottom into water in pan, putting a sieve or small lid directly on top of artichoke to keep submerged. Prepare other artichoke in same manner.
• Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer artichokes, uncovered, keeping them submerged, until just tender, 10 to 15 minutes for stems and 15 to 20 minutes for bottoms. Transfer as cooked with tongs to a cutting board.
• When artichokes are cool enough to handle, remove pointed inner leaves and fuzzy chokes with a melon-ball cutter or with a small spoon.
• Artichokes can be cooked 1 day ahead and transferred to a bowl with some cooking liquid and 1 cup cold water (to stop the cooking). Cool, then chill in cooled liquid, covered. Drain artichokes before using.