Le Cirques Penne With Artichokes And Cauliflower Food

LE CIRQUE'S PENNE WITH ARTICHOKES AND CAULIFLOWER

Steps:

• To prepare the Artichokes:.
• Cut of stems using a sharp knife to produce a neat, flat base.
• As artichokes are cut, rub exposed surfaces with lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
• With your sharp paring knife, trim off the bottom two layers of leaves, being careful not to cut away the white part (bottom) underneath.
• Trim any remaining green from around the base.
• Lay the artichoke on its side and cut through, leaving about 1 and 1/2" from base to the trimmed top.
• Turn the artichoke upside down and halve it.
• Cut each half into four or five wedges and then remove and discard the fuzzy choke from the center of each wedge.
• Your artichokes are now ready to be cooked, but if you are not going to cook them immediately, place them in a bowl and cover them with acidulated water (lemon juice and water).
• To make the Recipe:.
• Place the trimmed artichokes into a small saucepan and cover with water and the juice from half a lemon.
• Bring to a boil, blanch for five minutes, drain and set aside.
• Place the pancetta in a saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil, drain and set aside.
• Place the cauliflower florets into a large saucepan, cover with salted water, bring to a boil, cook five minutes (or less if florets are small--check--they should be crisp tender), drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the pancetta, and cook over medium heat for two minutes.
• Add the artichokes and saute briefly.
• Season with oregano and rosemary and cook five minutes.
• Add the garlic and tomatoes to the pan and cook two minutes.
• Add the olives, cauliflower and parsely and salt and pepper and cook five minutes.
• Meanwhile cook the penne in boiling salted water until al dente and drain, reserving 1 and 1/2 cups of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the pasta in the pan with the sauce, then add the cooking liquid and cook for two minutes.
• Taste the sauce, adjust the seasoning, add the butter and the cheese and stir gently till melted and serve.

PENNE WITH BABY ARTICHOKES, BLACK OLIVES AND PEAS

Steps:

• Rinse the artichokes in cold water. Bend back the green petals and snap them off all the way down to the light green and yellow leaves. Cut off the top cone of petals and the green part of the base. Cut the artichokes in half, if the choke and thistle look spiky, remove them. Otherwise, just put in acidulated water.
• Coat a saucepan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and place over medium heat. Blot the artichokes dry then add them to the pan. Add the garlic, shallot, lemon slices, bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Pour in the stock, cover, and let simmer for 8 minutes to soften the artichokes. Remove the lid and add the olives, basil, tomatoes and butter, stir to incorporate. Add the peas and remaining oil; season again with salt and pepper. Cook pasta al dente and top with the baby artichoke sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese before serving.

PENNE WITH ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cook artichokes with water and lemon juice until tender.
• Cool artichokes, cut into quarters, reserve liquid.
• In large skillet, cook 4 T.
• (reserving 1 T.) minced garlic in 1 1/2 T.
• oil over medium high heat until golden.
• Reduce heat to low.
• Add artichokes and tomatoes, simmer one minute.
• Add artichoke liquid, red peppers, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Simmer 5 minutes.
• Cook and stir bread crumbs and reserved 1 T.
• garlic in remaining 1/2 T.
• oil.
• Pour artichoke sauce over penne in large bowl, toss gently to coat.
• Sprinkle with bread crumb mixture and romano cheese.

PENNE WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER, ARTICHOKE, & GARLIC PUREE

Steps:

• Boil water for penne with a dash of salt added.
• Meanwhile, drain the roasted red peppers & artichoke hearts very well and add to food processer. Add garlic & onion.
• Pulse in food processor so the mixture isn't pure liquid (pulse until mixture is the consistency of salsa - see photo of puree).
• Stir in olive oil, garlic powder and salt & pepper to taste.
• Cook then drain pasta. Stir in the puree.
• Garnish with the remaining jar of drained artichoke hearts & sliced black olives stirred through gently.
• Serve immediately.

PENNE WITH ARTICHOKE HEARTS

Steps:

• Slice about 2/3 of artichokes into small wedges; chop remainder into paste. Set aside. While pasta is cooking, saute onion and garlic in water until soft. Add oregano, salt and fresh-ground pepper.
• Reduce heat to low and stir in wine, lemon juice, spinach leaves (if desired) and reserved artichokes.
• Simmer, stirring, until spinach is wilted and all is heated through (1-3 minutes). Stir in ricotta.
• Drain pasta and add to sauce; remove from heat and add lemon zest just before serving.