New Orleans Stuffed Artichokes Food

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the stems from the artichokes to leave a neat, flat base. Lay each artichoke on its side, and cut away the upper third with a sharp knife. With kitchen shears, remove the prickly leaf tips from each remaining leaf. Rub the cut sides and bottom with a lemon slice, squeezing lemon juice onto the cut areas and set aside.
• Place the prepared artichokes, lemon slices, crab boil and bay leaves in the boiling water and simmer, partially covered, until the bottom is tender and can be pierced with a sharp knife and an outer leaf pulls out easily, about 25 minutes.
• Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
• To the onion pan, add the garlic and oregano and continue to cook for 30 seconds.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the bread crumbs, lemon zest, Parmesan, and 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Mix well and adjust seasonings with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Drain the artichokes upside down in a colander.
• When the artichokes are cool enough to handle, press the leaves gently back so that the artichoke opens to reveal the inner choke and prickly leaves. Pull out the cone of undeveloped white leaves and gently scrape out the choke with a spoon so as not to damage the heart. Gently pull the leaves outward from the center until the leaves open slightly.
• Fill the artichoke cavities with bread stuffing, and pack a little bit into the space between the leaves.
• Place the artichokes in an earthenware baking dish and drizzle the tops with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the dish and place in oven. Bake until the artichokes are golden brown and the bread crumbs develop a nice crust, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving plate, drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle some grated Parmesan. Serve with additional lemon wedges.

SHRIMP STUFFED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Trim pointy leaves and stem from artichoke and place in microwaveable dish with 1' water in bottom.
• Cover and cook on high for 7-9 minutes, or until tender.
• Drain and let cool.
• Remove and refrigerate leaves.
• Chop heart and tender center of stem; refrigerate if prepared ahead.
• Heat together olive oil and butter in a very large skillet.
• Add onions, bell peppers, green onion and garlic; cook over high heat until clear and tender, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add canned artichokes, liquid from can, and reserved artichoke heart and stem.
• Thoroughly mix in bread crumbs, then cheeses. Remove from heat.
• Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoon stuffing onto bottom part of each artichoke leaf; use all stuffing.
• Sprinkle leaves lightly with paprika and top each with a shrimp; if needed, cut larger shrimp in half to have enough for all leaves.
• Serve on pretty platter.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim artichokes, snap off hard outside leaves, cut off top inch or so of pointy tips and cut off stem so that it is just about flush with base of leaves. Put stem end down and press on open end to force leaves open. Use your hands to expand that opening, then use a spoon to scrape out choke. As you finish with each artichoke, sprinkle it with lemon juice and set aside.
• In a bowl, combine bread crumbs with remaining ingredients, including enough olive oil to moisten mixture. Stuff a portion of this into cavity of each artichoke, spreading some between leaves as well.
• Steam artichokes on a rack over boiling water until tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Sprinkle with a little more olive oil and lemon juice. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY'S STUFFED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Slice off the pointed ends of each artichoke.
• Rub a lemon on the cut ends to prevent browning.
• Slice off the stem end of each artichoke so that they sit up straight.
• Fry the bacon until crisp; drain.
• Crumble into a bowl, and mix in the next 9 ingredients.
• Spread the leaves of each artichoke as much as possible, and pack in a generous amount of stuffing around them.
• Tap each artichoke gently to let any loose stuffing fall off.
• Stand them in a casserole or roasting pan just large enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Add water to a depth of 1-1/2 inches.
• Pour a generous amount of olive oil over each artichoke, letting it seep in and top each artichoke with a slice of lemon.
• Bring the water to a boil, cover, lower the heat and steam the artichokes until the leaves pull off easily, at least 1 hour or more.
• Check the water level after about 25 minutes, and add more if necessary.
• Serve hot or warm.
• The stuffed artichokes can be prepared in advance and reheated before serving.
• Leftover stuffing keeps for 2 weeks in the refrigerator and longer in the freezer.
• Option: sprinkle grated Parmagiano Reggiano cheese over the top and place briefly under a broiler until cheese melts and begins to brown.