Ciao Bella Fried Artichokes Recipes

FRIED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Mix salt and pepper in a small bowl. Fill a large bowl with water and add juice and rinds of lemons. Set both bowls aside.
• Using a sharp paring or bird's beak knife, shave off the tough outer leaves of artichokes until you reach the tender pale green or yellow leaves and create a bulbous shape. Cut off at least an inch of the thorny top. Trim the stem near the heart, peeling off the outer green fiber and leaving about 2 inches of stem if possible. Immediately put the artichokes in the lemon water to prevent browning.
• Fill an electric fryer or deep cast-iron enameled pot with enough oil to almost cover artichokes. Heat to 325 degrees. While oil is heating, dry artichokes well with paper towels. Tap the flat top of the cut artichoke against the table to loosen the leaves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, rubbing in the seasoning.
• Fry artichokes in batches. Cook, turning occasionally with tongs, for about 15 minutes, or until a fork easily pierces the stem at its thickest point. The outside should be bronzed.
• Remove artichokes from oil and drain well, stem side up, on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Gently open leaves to remove choke (using a grapefruit spoon or melon baller) and encourage the leaves to spread. You can now freeze them or leave them out, stem side up, for a few hours until ready to finish.
• When ready to serve, reheat the oil to 350. Working in batches again, return artichokes, stem side up, to hot oil just to crisp. Drain well and serve immediately with a sprinkle of salt. Eat with your fingers.

FRIED ARTICHOKES (CARCIOFI ALLA GIUDIA)

Steps:

• FIRST STEPSSqueeze the juice of 1 lemon into a bowl. Add 3 cups of cold water into the same bowl. Now, discard the most leathery artichokes leaves, and peel the stems. Cut the extremity of the artichokes and pour them into the bowl with water and lemon juice. Marinate the artichokes 15 minutes, then open them with your fingers like a flower, and place over a board lined with towel paper until dried.
• FRIED ARTICHOKESPour the olive oil into a small and deep pot. Place the pot over medium heat until the oil reach 300° F. Now, deep fry the artichokes 8 minutes. The temperature of the oil have to be around 250° F. When the baby artichokes are well cooked, raise and place them over a plate lined with towel paper. Press the artichokes against the plate in order to open them like a flower. Finally, raise the temperature of the oil at 350° F and fry the artichokes, one at time, for 30 seconds until golden ad crispy.
• FINISHINGPlace the fried artichokes on clean paper towels and complete with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

GRANDMA'S ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim artichoke stems flat so the artichokes can stand upright and rinse artichokes thoroughly in running water. Hold artichokes upside down over a work surface and smash the artichokes lightly to open the leaves. Spread 1/4 of the garlic into the spaces between leaves of each artichoke.
• Season artichokes with salt, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon grated Romano cheese per artichoke, opening the leaves and letting the seasonings and cheese into the leaves. Push torn leaves of parsley into the spaces between the leaves to hold the seasonings in.
• Set the artichokes upright in a saucepan and pour peanut oil over the artichokes, letting the oil seep into the crevices between leaves. Gently pour water into the saucepan, taking care not to let the water splash on the artichokes and wash off the oil. Cover pan.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer gently until the outer leaves of the artichoke are easy to strip off but are not mushy or falling apart, about 1 hour. Test for salt and season with more if desired; simmer 5 to 10 more minutes to let the salt dissolve.

ROMAN-JEWISH STYLE FRIED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Pare artichoke bases flat, and remove tough outer leaves, leaving pale-green edible ones. Trim tops off. Rub cut surfaces with lemon half. Work quickly; do not soak in water.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil and garlic in saute pan over medium-high heat. Brown artichokes cooking on all sides 2 to 3 minutes. If garlic gets too brown, discard. Stand artichokes on bottoms; cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until tender.
• Leave pan with oil on stove; transfer artichokes to paper towel to drain upside down until slightly cool. Spread leaves like a flower (scrape out fuzzy choke with melon baller).
• Season artichokes with salt and pepper; add 3 tablespoons oil to pan; when hot, add enough artichokes to fit comfortably without overlapping, bases facing up. Cook over medium-high heat, pressing leaves down, until brown and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Keep warm while cooking second batch. Blot well.
• Salt lightly, and serve hot with shaved Parmesan and lemon wedges.

FRIED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with cold water. Add juice of 2 lemons; set aside. Remove outer leaves from artichokes. Holding onto the stem of each artichoke, smash each artichoke on work surface until remaining leaves of artichokes open, resembling a flower in bloom. Transfer artichokes to bowl of acidulated water.
• Pour 1 1/2 inches olive oil into a large saucepan, and heat over medium heat to 320 degrees. Dry artichokes well. Add to saucepan, and cook until artichoke bottoms are fork-tender, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from saucepan, and drain on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Set aside to cool for about 5 minutes. Season with salt, and return to saucepan. Dip fingertips in ice water, and flick about 1 teaspoon of water into saucepan. Continue to cook until crisp and golden, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup olive oil, remaining 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place radicchio in a medium bowl, and drizzle 1/4 cup vinaigrette over radicchio; toss to combine. Transfer to a platter.
• Remove fried artichokes to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Halve artichokes lengthwise, and place on radicchio. Drizzle with vinaigrette, reserving any extra for another use. Serve immediately.

FRIED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Slice the tops off the artichokes horizontally. Trim the outer leaves. Slice the artichokes into thirds and put them in a bowl of cold water into which you have squeezed half of one of the lemons. This will help to prevent them turning brown.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Dry the artichokes in a salad spinner or with paper towels. Sauté them in batches until they are golden brown on both sides, seasoning them with salt and pepper as you put them in the pan and turning them once with a spatula.
• Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley and serve at room temperature, garnished with lemon quarters.

CIAO BELLA BAKED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Peel back dark green leaves of artichokes until you get to the tender center. Cut top of artichoke about half way down and remove choke if necessary. Cut artichokes in 4 quarters. Par boil with juice of 1/2 lemon until fork tender.
• Drain artichokes and place in a 9" x 13" pan. Sprinkle ingredients over top evenly and drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy!