Lemon Mint Braised Artichokes Food

LEMON MINT BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Squeeze 2 lemon halves into a large bowl of cold water.
• Cut off top inch of 1 artichoke and bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base (keep stem attached). Discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves.
• Cut off remaining leaves 1/2 inch above top of artichoke base using a sharp knife, then pull out purple leaves and scoop out fuzzy choke with a melon-ball cutter. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and side of artichoke.
• Trim a thin slice from stem end, then trim side of stem down to pale green inner core. Rub cut surfaces with lemon halves, then put artichokes in lemon water.
• Trim remaining artichokes in same manner.
• Combine lemon juice, water (3 cups), oil, 3 tablespoons mint, garlic, and 1 teaspoon salt in a 4-to 5-quarts heavy pot (wide enough to hold artichokes in 1 layer with stems pointing upward) and bring to a simmer.
• Stand artichokes, stem ends up, in liquid and cover with a round of parchment paper. Simmer, covered with parchment and lid, until just tender when artichoke bottom is pierced with a knife, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes with a slotted spoon to a shallow serving dish. Boil cooking liquid until reduced to about 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. During last 2 minutes of boiling, whisk liquid until it emulsifies. Pour over artichokes and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons mint.
• What to drink:
• Yarden Galilee Cabernet Sauvignon '05

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup each water and white wine, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 wide strips lemon zest and 2 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil to a simmer in a large skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring halfway through, until the artichokes are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and add 2 minced garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons each olive oil and chopped parsley and mint. Cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, 1 to 2 more minutes.

BRAISED ARTICHOKES WITH TOMATOES AND MINT

Steps:

• Place tomatoes in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, crushing with your hands; add wine, red pepper flakes, 2 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup oil, and 2 cups water; set aside.
• Pulse anchovies and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add mint and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, stream in remaining 1/2 cup oil; process until a coarse paste forms. Set pesto aside.
• Remove several layers of dark-green outer leaves from artichokes (keep going until you get to the tender light-green leaves). Using a serrated knife, cut off top 1" of artichokes and trim stem ends. Rub cut ends with lemon halves to prevent browning. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, use a paring knife or vegetable peeler to remove tough outer green layer from base and stem to reveal pale-green underneath; rub all over with lemon. Halve through stem and rub cut sides with more lemon. Use a spoon to scoop out choke, then pull out spiky inner leaves; rub insides with lemon. Rub reserved pesto all over artichoke halves and place artichokes in a single layer inside reserved pot, submerging in tomato mixture.
• Bring to a simmer over medium-low and cook, turning artichokes occasionally, until hearts are fork-tender, 55-65 minutes. Transfer artichokes to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm.
• Increase heat to medium, bring sauce to a boil, and cook until slightly thickened, 10-15 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed. Spoon over artichokes.

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix the artichokes and all other ingredients except chopped parsley into a medium bowl. Toss together and put into a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil on top of the stove, cover with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Cook until soft, about 1 hour. Serve sprinkled with parsley.
• Note: The artichokes will keep for up to 3 weeks, refrigerated, in the cooking liquid.

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES OVER PASTA

Steps:

• For the Herbes de Napa:.
• Combine all ingredients.
• Store in an airtight container away from light and heat for up to 4 months.
• yields 3/4 cup.
• For the Artichoke Hearts:.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium nonreactive saucepan.
• Mix well and set aside while preparing the artichokes.
• Snap outer leaves from an artichoke.
• Cut off the top half, and then use a paring knife to trim down to the heart, rubbing cut surfaces with the lemon half as you work to avoid discoloration.
• Cut the heart in half and scrape out the choke with a spoon.
• Cut each piece in half again.
• As each artichoke heart quarter is completed, immediately turn it in the marinade to coat completely.
• When all the artichokes are trimmed, put the pan over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Pour the artichokes and marinade into a baking dish (or cook them in the saucepan if it is ovenproof), cover with foil, and cook until the artichokes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool in the cooking liquid.
• Notes- uses for the Artichokes: If preparing a larger number of artichokes, just increase the marinade proportionately.
• Serve them as an appetizer salad on their own with their braising liquid.
• Make sure to have crusty bread on hand to sop up the juices.
• Slice or roughly chop and scatter across a cheese pizza.
• Be sure to drizzle some of the braising liquid on the pizza as well.
• Roughly chop and add to a risotto at the last minute just to heat through.
• Add some of the braising liquid, too, to flavor the risotto.
• Season a nice piece of fish with salt and pepper and place on top of the artichokes to cook with them the last 10 to 15 minutes of their cooking time.
• Drizzle with olive oil just before serving.
• For the Pasta:.
• Cook fettuccine according to package directions.
• While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic.
• When garlic is golden, add the oregano and broth.
• Bring to a simmer, stir in the spinach to wilt.
• Add the artichokes and heat through.
• Drain the pasta and place in a serving bowl.
• Pour over the artichoke mixture and toss with the parsley and butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.

EASY BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Fill a medium bowl with water and squeeze the juice of 1 lemon in the bowl, tossing in the lemon halves as well. Rinse each artichoke and trim 1/2-inch off of the stalk. Trim 1-inch off the top of each artichoke.
• Cut each artichoke in half, from stalk to tip, and remove the choke with a spoon or paring knife. Remove the tough outer leaves and trim the outside of the stalk with a paring knife. Add the prepped artichokes to the bowl of lemon water to keep them from browning while they are cooking.
• Slice the remaining lemon. In a baking dish large enough to place the artichokes in 1 even layer, place the slices in the dish to form a bed for the artichokes. In the center of each artichoke, add a garlic half and drizzle with half the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then place cut side down on top of the lemon slices, holding the garlic clove in half as you turn them.
• Pour the chicken stock around the sides, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of stock should be in the bottom of the baking dish.
• Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the tops of the artichokes, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover and firmly seal with aluminum foil. Bake in the oven until fork-tender and the leaves peel off easily, about 1 hour.