Lemon Braised Artichokes Over Pasta Recipes

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup each water and white wine, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 wide strips lemon zest and 2 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil to a simmer in a large skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring halfway through, until the artichokes are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and add 2 minced garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons each olive oil and chopped parsley and mint. Cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, 1 to 2 more minutes.

ARTICHOKES BRAISED IN LEMON AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Trim artichokes into hearts:
• Add lemon halves to a large bowl of cold water, squeezing to release juice.
• Cut off top inch of 1 artichoke and bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base (keep stem attached). Discard several more layers in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves.
• Cut remaining leaves flush with top of artichoke bottom using a sharp knife. Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and sides of artichoke.
• Peel sides of stem down to pale inner core. Put in lemon water while preparing remaining artichokes.
• Cook shallots, carrot, garlic, and seeds in 1/4 cup oil in a 4-to 5-quart heavy pot (pot should be wide enough to hold artichokes in 1 layer with stems pointing upward) over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add water, zest, and 3 tablespoons lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Stand artichokes in pot and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover artichokes with wax paper, then a lid, and simmer over medium-low heat until bases are just tender when pierced with a knife, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes to a dish and reserve cooking liquid. When artichokes are cool enough to handle, halve lengthwise. Scoop out and discard inner choke (fuzzy center and any sharp leaves).
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown cut sides of artichokes in 2 batches, about 2 minutes per batch, transferring to a serving dish. Add reserved cooking liquid to skillet along with remaining tablespoon lemon juice and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Boil vigorously 3 minutes, then stir in parsley and pour over artichokes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BRAISED GREEK ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS WITH LEMON AND OLIVE OIL

Steps:

• Fill a bowl with water and add the juice of 1 lemon. Cut away the end of the stems of the artichokes, leaving about an inch. Break off the tough leaves around the bottom, and using a large, sharp chef's knife, cut away the tops about an inch above the widest part of the artichoke. Then trim the base by holding a paring knife at a 45-degree angle and turning the artichoke against the knife. You should end up with bare artichoke bottoms with no leaves and smooth sides. Peel the stems. Cut the artichoke bottom in half, scoop out the spiny inner leaves and the choke, and immediately plunge it into the bowl of acidulated water.
• Oil a large casserole. Drain the artichokes, take two halves and press them together to make a single artichoke, and place in the casserole, stem up. Repeat with the remaining artichokes, squeezing them into the pot with their stems facing up.
• Add enough water to the casserole to come a third of the way up the sides of the artichoke bottoms. Drizzle in the remaining lemon juice and the olive oil. Add salt to taste and sprinkle on the dill. Bring to a simmer, cover tightly and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, or until the artichokes are tender. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then transfer to a platter. Discard the liquid in the pot. Serve cold or room temperature, garnished, if desired, with fresh dill.

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES OVER PASTA

Steps:

• Cook fettuccine according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic. When garlic is golden, add the oregano and broth. Bring to a simmer, stir in the spinach to wilt. Add the artichokes. Drain the pasta and place in a serving bowl. Pour over the artichoke mixture and toss with the parsley and butter and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium nonreactive saucepan. Mix well and set aside while preparing the artichokes. Snap outer leaves from an artichoke. Cut off the top half, and then use a paring knife to trim down to the heart, rubbing cut surfaces with the lemon half as you work to avoid discoloration. Cut the heart in half and scrape out the choke with a spoon. Cut each piece in half again. As each artichoke heart quarter is completed, immediately turn it in the marinade to coat completely. When all the artichokes are trimmed, put the pan over high heat and bring to a boil. Pour the artichokes and marinade into a baking dish (or cook them in the saucepan if it is ovenproof), cover with foil, and cook until the artichokes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool in the cooking liquid. Michael's Notes: If preparing a larger number of artichokes, just increase the marinade proportionately. Serve them as an appetizer salad on their own with their braising liquid. Make sure to have crusty bread on hand to sop up the juices. Slice or roughly chop and scatter across a cheese pizza. Be sure to drizzle some of the braising liquid on the pizza as well. Roughly chop and add to a risotto at the last minute just to heat through. Add some of the braising liquid, too, to flavor the risotto. Season a nice piece of fish with salt and pepper and place on top of the

LEMON SPAGHETTI WITH ROASTED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Gently pat the artichoke hearts with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Place the artichoke hearts in a mound in the center of the baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon salt, season with pepper and gently toss to combine. Scatter the artichoke hearts in an even layer and roast for 20 minutes. Flip the hearts and roast for an additional 10 minutes, until browned and a little crisp around the edges.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes or according to package directions.
• While the pasta cooks, in a serving dish large enough to accommodate the spaghetti, add the Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the lemon zest; toss to combine. Add the lemon juice and the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil; stir to combine. The mixture should resemble a thick paste.
• Place the serving dish next to the pasta pot. Scoop out and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of it over the Parmesan-lemon mixture; stir to thin out the mixture a little.
• Using tongs, lift out some of the spaghetti (with its cooking water still clinging to it) and transfer to the Parmesan-lemon mixture; quickly toss and drag the spaghetti in a circular motion around the dish to incorporate the sauce. Repeat until you have transferred and tossed all of the spaghetti.
• Add the butter, basil and 1 tablespoon of the pasta water to the spaghetti, and keep tossing until you have a silky sauce clinging to it. Add more pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
• Top with the roasted artichokes, a little more black pepper and torn basil, and serve.

LEMON ARTICHOKE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring large pot of water to boil for pasta.
• In a large saute pan, heat oilive oil and margarine over medium heat.
• Add minced garlic and dried oregano and italian seasoning.
• When garlic is fragrant, add artichike hearts, lemon zest, half the lemon juice, capers and veggie broth.
• Simmer sauce while pasta cooks.
• Stir in soy milk, remaining lemon juice and "parmesan".
• Drain pasta and add to sauce.
• Mix well and serve. Top with crushed red pepper (my favorite) and extra "parmesan" if you like.

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES OVER PASTA

Steps:

• For the Herbes de Napa:.
• Combine all ingredients.
• Store in an airtight container away from light and heat for up to 4 months.
• yields 3/4 cup.
• For the Artichoke Hearts:.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper in a medium nonreactive saucepan.
• Mix well and set aside while preparing the artichokes.
• Snap outer leaves from an artichoke.
• Cut off the top half, and then use a paring knife to trim down to the heart, rubbing cut surfaces with the lemon half as you work to avoid discoloration.
• Cut the heart in half and scrape out the choke with a spoon.
• Cut each piece in half again.
• As each artichoke heart quarter is completed, immediately turn it in the marinade to coat completely.
• When all the artichokes are trimmed, put the pan over high heat and bring to a boil.
• Pour the artichokes and marinade into a baking dish (or cook them in the saucepan if it is ovenproof), cover with foil, and cook until the artichokes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 45 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool in the cooking liquid.
• Notes- uses for the Artichokes: If preparing a larger number of artichokes, just increase the marinade proportionately.
• Serve them as an appetizer salad on their own with their braising liquid.
• Make sure to have crusty bread on hand to sop up the juices.
• Slice or roughly chop and scatter across a cheese pizza.
• Be sure to drizzle some of the braising liquid on the pizza as well.
• Roughly chop and add to a risotto at the last minute just to heat through.
• Add some of the braising liquid, too, to flavor the risotto.
• Season a nice piece of fish with salt and pepper and place on top of the artichokes to cook with them the last 10 to 15 minutes of their cooking time.
• Drizzle with olive oil just before serving.
• For the Pasta:.
• Cook fettuccine according to package directions.
• While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic.
• When garlic is golden, add the oregano and broth.
• Bring to a simmer, stir in the spinach to wilt.
• Add the artichokes and heat through.
• Drain the pasta and place in a serving bowl.
• Pour over the artichoke mixture and toss with the parsley and butter and season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.