Stuffed Baby Artichokes Recipes

ITALIAN BABY STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Take baby artichokes and trim off top and bottoms. Snip sharp parts off artichoke with scissor. Make sure artichoke has a flat top after trimming is done. When all trimmed, transfer artichokes to pot of water with lemon juice, cover and boil for about 30-40 minutes. When fork tender, drain artichokes and cool. In the meantime, while artichokes are cooling, prepare stuffing. Add bread crumbs, both grated cheeses and minced garlic with 1/2 cup of olive oil and mix together. When cool, transfer artichokes to corning ware baking dish and stuff with mixtures. Add last 1/2 cup of olive oil to top of artichokes, add two cups of water to top of artichokes and bottom of dish, cover with aluminum foil and cook in oven on 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Take aluminum off and cook or broil on LOW on lower part of oven for 10-15 minutes to crisp up.

THE BEST STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut top 1/4 of an artichoke off and discard. Trim off the top 1/2 inch from remaining leaves. Cut off bottom inch from stalk to create a flat bottom. Turn artichoke upside down and bang on surface to loosen the leaves. Zest 3/4 teaspoon of lemon zest from the lemon and set aside. Cut lemon in half and rub cut leaves and stem of artichoke with lemon. Repeat artichoke prep with remaining artichokes.
• Combine reserved lemon zest with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and stir well.
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly into all the artichoke leaves, avoiding the thistle leaves in the direct center. Work mixture evenly into each crevice of each artichoke until all of the mixture is used.
• Pour water in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Add remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Set artichokes in the pot so that they are touching, so that they may remain upright during cooking. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the leaves release very easily, about 1 hour.
• Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with more parsley if desired. Serve warm or room temperature.

STUFFED BABY ARTICHOKES, IZMIR STYLE

Steps:

• Wash the rice in several changes of water; drain. Place in a small bowl and cover with very hot water. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine 6 cups cold water, the juice of 1 1/2 lemons, 1 teaspoon salt and the flour. Gently smack each artichoke on the edge of a hard surface to open up the leaves. Remove the tough outer leaves and cut off the spiky tips of the remaining ones. Cut off the stems so the artichokes will stand upright. Remove any hard surfaces around each base with a vegetable peeler. Spread open the inner leaves and use a melon baller to scoop out the choke in the center. Place the artichoke in the water mixture as you finish each one.
• Drain the rice and combine with the scallions, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the dill, 2 teaspoons of the sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Drain the artichokes and reserve 1/2 cup of the liquid. Spread open the artichoke leaves and stuff the cavity of each one with the filling.
• Place the onion in the center of a deep 9-inch nonreactive skillet with a tightly fitting lid or a round flameproof casserole with lid. Surround the onion with the artichokes, fava beans and carrots.
• In a small bowl, combine the remaining olive oil, the remaining sugar, the reserved 1/2 cup liquid and 2 tablespoons lemon juice and pour over the artichokes. Crumple and wet a 12-inch square piece of parchment paper and lay it directly over the artichokes.
• Top with an inverted, heatproof plate that just fits inside the pan. Place over medium-high heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Pour 1 cup of boiling water down the inside of the pan. Boil vigorously for 1 minute. Lower the heat, cover with a lid and cook slowly until the artichokes are very tender, about 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside, still covered, until the artichokes are completely cool, about 3 to 4 hours.
• Discard the onion. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the artichokes, favas and carrots to a shallow serving dish. Spoon some of the cooking juices over them, garnish with the dill and lemon wedges and serve.

DEEP-FRIED BABY ARTICHOKES STUFFED WITH PEPPER JACK CHEESE

Steps:

• Trim and cook artichokes:
• Squeeze juice from 1 lemon half into a large bowl of water, then drop same half into water.
• Cut off artichoke stems and discard. Cut off top 1/2 inch of 1 artichoke with a serrated knife. Bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base, then discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until you reach pale yellow leaves with pale green tips. Cut off green tips.
• Trim dark green fibrous parts from base and sides of artichoke with a sharp paring knife, then rub cut surfaces with other lemon half. Drop artichoke into acidulated water.
• Trim remaining artichokes in same manner.
• Put 2 quarts water in a 4-quart pot and whisk in flour. Whisk in oil, salt, and remaining tablespoon lemon juice and bring to a simmer.
• Add trimmed artichokes and simmer, partially covered, until just tender when pierced with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes. Drain in a colander, then invert onto paper towels to drain thoroughly. Pat dry.
• When artichokes are cool enough to handle, pull out all pointed inner leaves and scoop out fuzzy choke with melon-ball cutter.
• Stuff and fry artichokes:
• Heat 2 inches oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until thermometer registers 350°F.
• While oil is heating, stuff each artichoke with 2 packed teaspoons cheese, pressing leaves around cheese.
• Put eggs and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls and divide salt and pepper between them, stirring them in. Dip each artichoke in egg, turning to coat and letting excess drip off, then in crumbs, turning to coat. Transfer to a tray.
• Fry artichokes in 2 batches (returning oil to 350°F between batches) until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer artichokes as fried to paper towels to drain, then cut in half.