Lemon Artichoke Soup Recipes

LEMONY ARTICHOKE AND POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Fill large bowl with water and squeeze the lemon halves into it. Working with one artichoke at a time, trim the base, removing the stem and trimming the tough outer leaves beneath the heart. Cut off the top 2/3 of the leaves, leaving only the heart. With a small spoon, scrape out the hairy choke. Submerge the trimmed artichoke in the lemon water. Repeat with the five remaining artichokes. Once the hearts have been trimmed, slice them 1/4" thick and return them to the lemon water.
• In a large deep saucepan, heat the 1/4 cup olive oil. Add the garlic and cook over low heat until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes.
• Drain the artichokes and add them to the sauce pan along with the potatoes, the 6 1/2 cups of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to boil.
• Put the peppercorns in a teaball or tie them up in a piece of cheesecloth and immerse them in the soup.
• Simmer until both the peppercorns and potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Discard the peppercorns.
• Using a fork or potato masher, partially mash the potatoes to thicken the broth. Season the soup with salt. Ladle into bowls and drizzle with olive oil. Serve with the lemon wedges.

CREAMY ARTICHOKE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the artichoke hearts, season with salt and pepper and saute another 5 minutes. Add the broth, bring to a simmer and cook about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Puree until smooth with a hand blender or in a blender in small batches. Whisk in 3/4 cup yogurt and season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, stir together the pesto sauce and lemon juice. Ladle the soup into bowls, top each with about 1 tablespoon yogurt and drizzle with the thinned pesto sauce.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SOUP WITH LEMON AND SAFFRON

Steps:

• Using a heavy casserole with a cover, saute the onions in the olive oil over low heat, covered, about 20 minutes. Uncover, add garlic and the artichokes, and increase heat. Continue to saute for a few more minutes. Add the chicken broth and salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Grind the almonds in a spice grinder and mix with the water. Whisk the mixture into the soup along with with saffron strands and the lemon juice. Reheat, sprinkle parsley on top, and serve.

ARTICHOKE & LEMON SOUP

Steps:

• Begin by warming the butter and olive oil in the pan, add the onions, garlic, celery and leeks, season with salt and add the peppercorns. Cook very gently, avoiding color on the vegetables. When the vegetables are very soft, add the lemon zest, the artichokes and the bay leaf, sweat for 2 more minutes. Deglaze with white wine, reduce by 2/3 and then add the lemon juice and 2 to 3 cups of the artichoke juice and the parmesan rinds. Let simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes add the chicken stock and check the seasonings again. There should be a lemon taste to the soup. Reduce this by 1⁄4 and then add the heavy cream. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes more, then puree in a blender and pass through a strainer. Serve hot with marinated artichokes, chicken and the ricotta dumplings.

GREEK LEMON, ARTICHOKE, AND EGG SOUP

Steps:

• Rinse the rice thoroughly and place it, along with the water, in the slow cooker insert.
• In a sauté pan, heat the oil and sauté the onion, celery, and artichokes over medium-high heat until just beginning to brown, about 7 minutes.
• Add the vegetables to the water and rice, cover, and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or until the rice is tender. Add the cumin and 1/4 cup of the parsley to the soup.
• In a medium bowl and using a whisk or a handheld immersion blender, beat the eggs and lemon juice together until frothy. Slowly add 2 ladles of broth, 1 ladle at a time, stirring constantly, to the lemon and egg mixture.
• Add the lemon and broth mixture back into the soup, stirring constantly, and continue cooking for about 10 minutes more, or until heated through and beginning to thicken. (If you allow the soup to boil, the eggs will curdle.)
• Add salt and pepper to taste, ladle into bowls, garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup parsley, and serve immediately.
• Suggested Beverage
• A nice Sauvignon Blanc or an artisanal Greek retsina, if you can find one, would pair well with this soup.