Dinner Tonight Steamed Artichokes With Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipes

STEAMED ARTICHOKES WITH TWO DIPPING SAUCES

Steps:

• STEAMED ARTICHOKES
• Prepare a bowl of water large enough to hold all of the artichokes. Peel 1 lemon with a vegetable peeler, then cut in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl.
• Remove any tough outer leaves from artichokes. Working with one artichoke at a time, use a serrated knife to cut off the top quarter of each. Use kitchen shears to trim sharp tips of the leaves. Remove any small leaves from bottom and trim stem just enough that artichoke can stand upright; place in lemon water to keep it from turning brown while repeating with remaining artichokes.
• Fill a large pot with 2 inches of water; set a steamer basket (or colander) inside pot, and bring water to a boil. Place the lemon peel and artichokes, stem ends down, in basket. Cover and steam until bases of artichokes are easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 20 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, use a small spoon to scoop out center cone; scrape out purple leaves and fuzzy choke. Serve artichokes with dipping sauces, as desired
• TARRAGON-YOGURT SAUCE
• Mix together yogurt, lemon zest and juice, tarragon, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• SPICY AÏOLI
• Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Blanch garlic until tender, 3 to 5 minutes; drain and mash garlic into a paste.
• Whisk together garlic, egg yolk, mustard, and lemon juice in a bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified. Whisk in paprika, cayenne, hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• nutrition information
• Per Serving (artichokes)
• Calories: 61
• Saturated Fat: .1g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Carbohydrates: 14g
• Protein: 4g
• Sodium: 121mg
• Fiber: 7g
• nutrition information (TARRAGON-YOGURT SAUCE)
• Per 1/4-cup Serving:
• Calories: 30
• Saturated Fat: .6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 2.8mg
• Carbohydrates: 2.3g
• Protein: 3.6g
• Sodium: 495mg
• Fiber: .2g
• nutrition information (SPICY AÏOLI)
• Per 2-tablespoon Serving:
• Calories: 202
• Saturated Fat: 3.2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18.5g
• Cholesterol: 25.6mg
• Carbohydrates: 1.5g
• Protein: .5g
• Sodium: 287mg
• Fiber: .3g

SIMPLE STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut stem from artichokes and discard, making sure the bottom of each artichoke is flat. Cut top 1 inch (or so) of the artichoke and discard. Snip the thorny ends from each artichoke leaf with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• Fill the bottom of a pot with a couple of inches of water, adding garlic, lemon juice, and bay leaf to the water. Place a steamer basket in the pot, making sure that the water does not flow over the bottom of the steamer basket.
• Place the artichokes in the basket, resting on the flattened bottoms.
• Bring water to a boil, cover the pot, and cook until the leaves can be easily pulled from the artichoke, 20 to 30 minutes.

EASY STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Prepare artichokes for steaming: Snap off tough outer leaves. Using a serrated knife, cut off top 1/3 of artichoke. Snip remaining sharp or spiky tips using kitchen shears. Trim stem so artichoke stands upright. Rub cut surfaces with lemon to prevent discoloration. Repeat with remaining artichokes and lemon.
• Set a steamer basket in a large pot; add enough water so it reaches just below the basket. Squeeze lemon juice into water and add 1 tablespoon salt; bring to a boil. Place artichokes in steamer basket, stem-side up. Cover pot, and steam until heart is tender when pierced with a tip of a paring knife, and inner leaves pull out easily, 25 to 35 minutes; add more water to pot, if necessary. Serve warm or at room temperature with Easy Hollandaise or melted butter, if desired.

STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preparing the artichoke:
• Peel off tough outer leaves.
• Trim around the bottom of the artichoke, cutting off the stem and trimming the base.
• If you want to cook only the bottom, cut off the top half of the leaves. Scoop out the choke. If you want to leave the artichoke whole but remove the choke, trim the leaves somewhat less, force them open, then use a long spoon to scrape out the choke. (This will take a little while to do completely but isn't difficult.)
• To steam:
• Rig up a steamer in a pot and put the artichokes bottom up in it. Cover and cook for 20 to 40 minutes. Sample an outer leaf; when it pulls away easily and its meat is tender, they're done.
• Drain them upside down for a minute or two longer before serving hot; store upside down if you plan to serve them later. Serve hot with melted butter, at room temperature with vinaigrette, or cold with mayonnaise. Or serve at any temperature with lemon and/or olive oil and salt.

STEAMED ARTICHOKES WITH VINAIGRETTE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Lay an artichoke on its side on a cutting board. Using a large, sharp knife, cut away the entire top quarter in one slice. Rub the top with the cut lemon. Cut off the stem at the bottom, so the artichoke will stand upright, and rub the bottom with lemon. Pull off the tough bottom leaves (bracts). Then, using scissors, cut away the thorny end of each remaining bract. Rub the edges with lemon.
• Bring two inches of water to a boil in a steamer or pasta pot, and place the artichokes in the steaming basket. If they are too big to fit, place them directly in the water. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes or until a leaf easily pulls away. Remove from the heat. Serve hot or at room temperature with a sauce for dipping the leaves. Use your teeth to scrape the flesh from the bottom of the leaf. Have a bowl or plate on the side for the discarded leaves. When you reach the papery leaves that cover the heart in the middle, cut them away along with the choke and discard. Divvy up the heart and enjoy.
• Whisk together the vinegar, salt, Dijon mustard and garlic. Whisk in the mayonnaise, yogurt and olive oil, and blend well. Taste, adjust salt, and add pepper. Use as a dip for artichokes or other vegetables.