Slow Cooker Braised Artichokes With Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs Recipes

CROCKPOT ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Rinse Artichokes with water.
• Trim artichoke stem (it is an edible part of the vegetable, but for this method it must be trimmed short).
• Trim top inch off artichoke; heart will be exposed.
• Rub halved lemon over exposed artichoke heart to prevent browning.
• Open up petals to spread apart the artichoke & better expose the heart.
• Place artichokes into crock pot & squeeze lemon juice evenly over the top.
• Drizzle olive oil over artichokes.
• Salt artichokes & top with garlic.
• Pour approximately 1 cup of white wine into bottom of crock pot - add water until there is a 2-inch depth of liquid in the base of the slow cooker. The bottom 1/4 of the artichoke can be covered in the liquid.
• Cover with lid & cook on high for 4 hours (smaller artichokes will cook in 3 hours-remember, I used jumbos!)

WHOLE STUFFED ARTICHOKES BRAISED IN WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Make stuffing:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Spread bread crumbs in a shallow baking pan and bake in middle of oven until pale golden, about 10 minutes. Cool crumbs completely, then toss with parmesan, garlic, parsley, soppressata, zest if using, salt, and pepper. Drizzle oil over crumbs and toss to coat evenly.
• Trim and stuff artichokes:
• Cut off artichoke stems and discard. Cut off top 1/2 inch of 1 artichoke with a serrated knife, then cut about 1/2 inch off all remaining leaf tips with kitchen shears. Rub cut leaves with a lemon half.
• Separate leaves slightly with your thumbs and pull out purple leaves from center and enough yellow leaves to expose fuzzy choke. Scoop out choke with melon-ball cutter, then squeeze some lemon juice into cavity.
• Trim remaining artichokes in same manner.
• Spoon about 2 tablespoons stuffing into cavity of each artichoke and, starting with bottom leaves and spreading leaves open as much as possible without breaking, spoon a rounded 1/2 teaspoon stuffing inside each leaf. Top each artichoke with a slice of provolone.
• Cook artichokes:
• Put water, wine, oil, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper in pressure cooker (without insert) or pot and arrange stuffed artichokes in liquid in 1 layer.
• Seal pressure cooker with lid and cook at high pressure, according to manufacturer's instructions, 10 minutes. Put pressure cooker in sink (do not remove lid) and run cold water over lid until pressure goes down completely.
• If using a regular pot, simmer artichokes, covered, until leaves are tender, about 50 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes with tongs to 4 soup plates and spoon cooking liquid around them.

SLOW-COOKER BRAISED ARTICHOKES WITH TOASTED GARLIC BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Add 1/2 cup water and the 4 peeled and smashed cloves garlic, bay leaves and peppercorns to the insert of a 6-quart slow cooker.
• Heat the butter and grated garlic in a medium skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted and the garlic starts to sizzle and become aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the breadcrumbs and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook until golden and toasted, about 4 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool. Stir in the Pecorino-Romano and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well combined. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the breadcrumb mixture for garnish.
• Pull off the small, tough petals near the stems of the artichokes. Cut the stems close to the base so the artichokes will stand upright. Cut off the top inch of each artichoke. Snip off any thorny tips on the remaining petals with kitchen shears. Fan out the larger leaves with your fingers.
• Working over the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture, spoon the crumbs into the gaps of each artichoke until they're filled all the way around. Stand the artichokes up in the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on low until the stems are tender and the leaves come loose easily when pulled, about 7 hours. Being careful of the steam, transfer the artichokes to a serving platter, and sprinkle with the reserved breadcrumbs.