Steamed Artichokes With Poached Eggs And Smoked Salmon Recipes

SMOKED AND STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the court bouillon: Combine the garlic, dill, 4 cups of water and wine in a large stock pot. Squeeze the lemon juice into the pot, then add the lemon half. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil over direct heat.
• For the artichokes: Cut off the top inch and most of the stem close to the base. Trim the tip of each outer leaf with kitchen shears. Trim the bottoms of the artichokes and prick with a fork or paring knife. Place over indirect heat to take on some smoke while the poaching liquid comes to a boil, about 5 minutes.
• Place the artichokes in the liquid, bottoms up. Cover and simmer until a knife inserted into the bottom of the artichoke gives no resistance, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette: Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the artichokes with the vinaigrette on the side for dipping.
• (Alternatively, you can poach the artichokes over medium-high heat on a stovetop.)

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 WITH POACHED EGGS AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Cut off stems of artichokes flush with bottoms; discard. Using kitchen scissors, trim outer 3 layers of leaves to 2 inches.
• Fill a large stockpot with 2 inches of water. Set a steamer basket over water. Stand artichokes upright in basket; cover pot. Bring to a boil. Steam until bottoms of artichokes are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove artichokes from pot; let stand until cool enough to handle. Remove and discard inner leaves, leaving trimmed outer leaves to create a flowerlike shape. Using a teaspoon, remove fuzzy choke and any purple leaves; discard. Gently spread apart artichoke leaves to create desired appearance. Season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.
• Fill a large saucepan with 4 inches of water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. When water is barely simmering, break 1 egg into a small heatproof bowl. Gently tip bowl to slide egg carefully into water in pan. Repeat with remaining eggs. Cook until whites are set but yolks are still soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Lift out eggs with a slotted spoon; briefly rest spoon on paper towels to drain eggs.
• Immediately spoon 1 egg inside each artichoke (be careful not to pierce yolk). Spoon about 1 tablespoon hollandaise sauce over top of each egg. Drape 1 slice salmon on top. Serve with hollandaise.

PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH ARTICHOKES AND WHITE WINE

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Season the salmon fillets evenly with the salt and place each fillet flesh-side down in the hot skillet. Cook until deep golden brown, about 3 minutes. Sear the sides of the fillets for 1 minute on each side. Using a fish spatula, flip the fillets so the skin side is down and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and the oregano sprigs to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Baste the salmon fillets with the infused butter for 1 minute. Remove the salmon and oregano sprigs to a plate to rest.
• In the same skillet over medium heat, add the artichoke hearts and shallots. Cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until the shallots are softened and the artichokes are beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the chopped oregano and tomatoes and stir to combine. Deglaze the skillet with the white wine and allow the wine to cook down until reduced by half. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the spinach. Cook until the spinach is just barely wilted. Spoon the vegetables onto a platter and top with the rested salmon. Spoon any remaining sauce over the fish and serve.

HOW TO COOK ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• With a pair of kitchen scissors, snip off the tips of the artichoke leaves. They're pokey, and that's no fun.
• With a super-sharp, heavy-duty knife, lop off the top of the artichoke - about 3/4 of an inch worth.
• With the same knife, cut off the stem at the base of the artichoke so that it will sit flat.
• Remove the bottom row of leaves.
• Rinse well under cold water.
• Fill a large pot with about two inches of water and set in the artichokes, bottom side down. Optional but tasty: add a bay leaf, a slice of lemon, and/or a garlic clove. Set on the stove and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the temperature on the water to medium, reducing it to a simmer. Cover.
• Steam the artichokes for about 30 minutes, until tender. You can check for doneness by inserting the tip of a knife into the bottom (if it goes in with only a little resistance they're done) or by pulling off a tester leave (it should come off easily).
• Remove from water, allow to cool a bit, and serve with whatever dip you like (here are a few ideas!)

SMOKED SALMON SANDWICH WITH POACHED EGG

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan with water, 1 1/2 inches below the rim. Put the pan on the stove over high heat until it reaches about 190 degrees F (88 degrees C) or until you start to see bubbles at the bottom of the pan. Pour white vinegar and salt into the water and stir to distribute. Reduce heat to medium-low.
• Crack egg into a custard cup. Carefully place the custard cup into the water and slowly tilt until egg is fully submerged, being careful egg does not fall into the water. Set a timer for 6 minutes and keep an eye on the egg as it cooks.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Pour balsamic vinegar onto a flat plate and lay 1 piece of bread in the vinegar until coated. Repeat to coat the remaining piece. Place both pieces, vinegar-side down, in the hot skillet and cook until slightly charred, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Remove 1 piece bread to a plate, vinegar-side up. Top with garlic powder, pepper, and salmon. Carefully remove poached egg with a slotted spoon and place on top of smoked salmon. Top with remaining piece of bread, vinegar-side down.

POACHED EGGS WITH SMOKED SALMON AND BUBBLE & SQUEAK

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling water until tender, then drain.
• Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan or wok. Sweat the cabbage and the spring onions in the pan for a couple of mins. Meanwhile, chop and squash the potatoes roughly, then add to the pan along with the chives. Cook for 4-5 mins, flip it over (don't worry if it breaks) and cook for a further 4-5 mins.
• Meanwhile, bring a small pan of water to a rolling boil, then reduce the heat so it is just simmering. Crack the eggs into the pan and simmer for about 3 mins until the whites are cooked and the yolk is just beginning to set. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
• To serve, divide the bubble & squeak between 2 plates, place the smoked salmon and poached eggs on top and grind over a little black pepper, to taste.