Carciofiripienistuffedartichokes Recipes

FETTUCCINE CON CARCIOFI: FETTUCCINE WITH ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Clean the artichokes by removing all the tough outer leaves until you get to a pale yellow center. Peel the outer tough skin of the artichoke stems with a paring knife. Trim 1/3 off the tops of each artichoke and rub with lemon. Squeeze the lemon juice into a bowl of cool water and place all the cleaned artichokes in to prevent them from browning.
• Place the fettuccine in salted boiling water. Stir to prevent the strands from sticking together.
• Add the olive oil, garlic and chile, if using, to a saucepan and saute until golden. Remove the artichokes from the water and roughly chop. Add the chopped artichokes, cherry tomatoes, and wine to the pan. Once the wine has reduced, add the tomato puree, mint, and salt, to taste. Allow to simmer for approximately 15 minutes.
• About 2 minutes before the fettuccine is at the 'al dente' stage, drain the pasta, reserving approximately 1 cup of pasta water. Add the fettuccine and pasta water to the pan. Then add the butter and Parmigiano cheese and cook all together for an additional 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

EASTER ARTICHOKE PIES (TORTE DI CARCIOFO PER PASQUA)

Steps:

• Mix together flour, olive oil, egg, salt, and 3/4 cup cold water in a large bowl until dough just holds together (it should be fairly dry).
• Divide dough into 2 balls, using two-thirds of dough for bottom crusts and one-third for top crusts.
• Roll out dough for bottom crusts on a floured surface until very thin and almost transparent.
• Cut out eight 6 and 1/2-inch circles.
• Wrap bottom crusts in plastic and set aside.
• Roll out dough for top crusts on floured surface and cut out eight 5-inch circles.
• Wrap top crusts in plastic and set aside.
• Prepare the Filling:.
• Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add onions and cook until slightly golden, about 6?8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Mix together ricotta cheese, parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and sauteed onions in a large bowl.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 375?F.
• Assemble pies:.
• Place bottom crusts on a lightly oiled and floured baking sheet.
• Spoon 1 and 1/2 tbsp filling on each bottom crust and spread evenly, leaving 1 and 1/2-inch of crust exposed around edge.
• Divide artichokes between pies, arranging on top of filling, then spoon another 1 and 1/2 tbsp filling on top of each and add top crusts.
• To form pies, fold edges of bottom crusts over edges of top crusts.
• Pinch to seal, and then fold over again to create a slightly thicker edge.
• Brush tops with a little olive oil.
• Slit top of each pie 4 times in a crisscross pattern to allow steam to vent during baking.
• Bake until slightly golden, about 25-30 minutes. Serves 8.
• That's it!

CARCIOFI RIPIENI (STUFFED ARTICHOKES)

Steps:

• Remove as many as the outer leaves of the artichokes as look tough, bruised or split. Don't worry about taking off too many; there are plenty under there. Trim the stem, but not too far, and create a flat bottom for the artichokes. Cut off about 1/2 inch of the tops with a sharp blade.
• Rinse each artichoke under water, and place in a large bowl of water into which you have squeezed half the lemon. This acidulated water will keep them from turning brown on their cut edges.
• Drain the artichokes upside down on a clean dish cloth, while you prepare the filling. Put all the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a bowl and mix well. Now, hold each trimmed artichoke over the bowl, and spread the leaves with the fingers of one hand, while filling the gaps with a teaspoon and the bread crumb mixture. The goal is to get as much of the filling distributed as evenly as one can.
• Place all the filled artichokes in a baking dish, and liberally pour olive oil to taste over each one - nearly a tablespoon for each is about the right amount. Pour a scant cup of water, or even water and white wine, into the baking dish. Cut the remaining piece of lemon up, and tuck around the artichokes. Cover securely with foil, and bake at 350F for about 1 and 1/2 hours. The leaves should pull out easily when they are done.
• These should be cooled a bit before serving. Enjoy.