Lobster Stuffed Artichoke Food

THE BEST STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut top 1/4 of an artichoke off and discard. Trim off the top 1/2 inch from remaining leaves. Cut off bottom inch from stalk to create a flat bottom. Turn artichoke upside down and bang on surface to loosen the leaves. Zest 3/4 teaspoon of lemon zest from the lemon and set aside. Cut lemon in half and rub cut leaves and stem of artichoke with lemon. Repeat artichoke prep with remaining artichokes.
• Combine reserved lemon zest with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and stir well.
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly into all the artichoke leaves, avoiding the thistle leaves in the direct center. Work mixture evenly into each crevice of each artichoke until all of the mixture is used.
• Pour water in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Add remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Set artichokes in the pot so that they are touching, so that they may remain upright during cooking. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the leaves release very easily, about 1 hour.
• Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with more parsley if desired. Serve warm or room temperature.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Trim the sharp ends of each artichoke with scissors, and place in a large pot. Combine the artichokes with the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and fill pot with enough water to cover the artichokes. Boil for 40 minutes or until tender. Remove artichokes from pot and let cool.
• Once artichokes have cooled, scoop out the centers with a spoon, to remove the choke.
• To prepare the sauce, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, honey and mustard in a small bowl and mix well until smooth.
• Mix the shrimp with 3 tablespoons of the sauce and add the paprika and saffron.
• To serve, fill each artichoke with the remaining sauce. Garnish each artichoke by filling each leaf with a shrimp. Place on a large platter and serve with cherry tomatoes.

LOBSTER SEAFOOD STUFFING

Steps:

• Sauté the celery and onion in the butter until tender.
• Add the herbs and seafood and cook until the shrimp and scallops are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Add the crushed crackers and mix well.
• Add the sherry and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
• This is enogh stuffing for six lobsters. Or this can be made as a side dish. Cook for 20 minutes in a casserole dish at 350F

LOBSTER NEWBURG

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks and heavy cream until well blended. Set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the egg yolk mixture and sherry. Cook, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens. Do not boil.
• Remove from heat, and season with salt, cayenne, and nutmeg. Add lobster. Return pan to low heat, and cook gently until heated through. Serve hot over slices of buttered toast.

BAKED STUFFED LOBSTER NEW ENGLAND STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Melt 8 tablespoons butter in a 9-inch skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft but not browned.
• Stir in the tarragon and parsley.
• If using raw shrimp or scallops, add them with the herbs and cook for 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• If using cooked lobster or crabmeat, remove the pan from the heat as soon as you stir in the herbs, let cool, and then add the lobster or crabmeat.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• With a cleaver of chef’s knife, split the lobsters in half lengthwise.
• Remove and discard the head sac and intestine.
• Remove the tomalley and the roe if present and place in a small bowl.
• Break into small pieces using a fork.
• With the back side of a knife, crack the center of each claw on 1 side only.
• Season the lobsters lightly with salt and pepper.
• On a large roasting pan or baking sheet, place the halves together to resemble a butterfly.
• The tomalley and roe are optional for the stuffing.
• If you want to include them, mix them into the seafood mixture.
• Gently fold the crumbled crackers into the mixture.
• Divide the mixture evenly between 2 lobsters.
• If you are serving 1 lobster per person, spread the stuffing over the center so that the lobsters look whole again.
• Do not pack the stuffing tightly, or it will affect the even baking of the lobster.
• Brush the 3 tablespoons melted butter over the exposed meat tail, stuffing and claws.
• Bake until the lobster is cooked through and the stuffing is crisp and golden.
• Bake 17 minutes for a 1 1/2 pound lobster and 24 minutes for a 2-pound lobster.

CRAB ARTICHOKE STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, artichoke hearts, garlic, crab, green onions and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper and stir until fully combined.
• Stuff mushrooms with mixture and transfer to a small baking sheet.
• Bake until mushrooms are cooked and mixture is warmed through, 25 minutes. Broil if desired.
• Garnish with parsley and serve.

STUFFED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Mix together all ingredients except artichokes and 1/4 cup olive oil.
• Cut top and bottom from artichoke and rinse.
• Turn artichoke upside down and smash slightly to open leaves.
• Fill each leaf from the outside in by using the top of each leaf.
• Drizzle remaining olive oil over artichokes.
• Steam in covered pot with just enough water to cover the bottom of the pain, but not touching the stuffing mixture.
• Steam for about 45 minutes or until leaf pulls off easily.
• Serve.
• Note: Crabmeat can be cut from recipe or replaced with shrimp, crawfish, lobster or any other seafood.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Add the breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, anchovy, chile flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a large bowl. Finely grate the zest of 1 lemon into the bowl. Squeeze the juice of the lemon in a small bowl with the oil, then drizzle the lemon juice mixture into the breadcrumb mixture and mix with a fork until well combined and the mixture resembles wet sand. Stir in the Parmesan and set aside until ready to use.
• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lemon and drop in the lemon halves. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, cut off all but 1/2-inch of the stem. Use a serrated knife to slice about 1 inch off of the top. Use kitchen shears to trim the point off each leaf, removing 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Use your fingers to gently pull open the center leaves of the artichoke then use a spoon to scoop out and discard the fuzzy choke in the middle. (Note that removing the choke takes some effort and will make eating the final product much more enjoyable.) Submerge the cleaned artichoke in the lemon water to prevent browning and repeat with the remaining artichokes.
• Working with one artichoke at a time, remove from the water and use a clean kitchen towel to pat dry. Gently pull apart the leaves on each layer and stuff with the breadcrumbs over the bowl to avoid a mess, pressing lightly as you stuff (you will use about 2/3 cup stuffing per artichoke). Gently set the stuffed artichoke in a 9-by-9-inch casserole dish (do not use glass) or a large cast-iron skillet, standing it up on the flat stem if possible, or gently resting on the side if not. Note that you will want the artichokes to be snug in the dish to remain upright during baking. Repeat with the remaining artichokes and breadcrumbs.
• Pour the wine and 1/2 cup water into the bottom of the pan. Slice the remaining lemon into rounds and nestle them into the liquid. Tightly cover the dish with foil and bake until the artichokes leaves are tender and can be easily pulled off, 60 to 75 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and increase the temperature to 500 degrees F.
• Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the artichokes from the dish with tongs and place onto a serving plate. Serve with the cooking liquid lemon slices.