Artichoke Caviar Recipes

FIRE ROASTED ARTICHOKES WITH HERB AIOLI

Steps:

• Mix the garlic, shallot, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil or cilantro, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Place the steamed artichokes in the mixture and marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.
• To make the aioli: combine bread crumbs, white wine vinegar, garlic, salt, and egg yolks in a food processor. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil to make an emulsion. Add white pepper and hot sauce, to taste. Add fresh basil or cilantro and pulse to combine.
• Preheat a grill.
• Remove the artichokes from the marinade and place on char-broiler or barbecue fire with the leaves of the artichoke up. Cook for 4 to 6 minutes depending on fire temperature. Remove from fire and garnish with herb aioli and caviar of choice.

ARTICHOKE CAVIAR

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Process with a steel blade until mixture is finely chopped.
• Chill several hours or overnight.
• Serve cold.

BOILED WHOLE ARTICHOKES WITH MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil - large enough to submerge all four artichokes. Once the water is boiling, season it with salt to taste. Slice off the domed top quarter of the artichokes, remove the black tip of the stem and immediately place the artichokes in the boiling water. To cook the artichokes evenly and prevent them from bobbing at the surface, place a lid one size smaller than the pot you are using directly on top of the artichokes, weighing them down so they are submerged. Reduce the heat until the water is at a hard simmer, and cook the artichokes until you can easily pierce the bottom choke (where the stem meets the base) with a cake tester or the sharp tip of a thin knife with no resistance, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While artichokes cook, prepare the mayonnaise: Place the egg, egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice and two healthy pinches of salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Whiz for 5 seconds, then, with the machine on, slowly add about half the neutral oil in a thin, steady stream. Turn the machine off, and add 1 tablespoon cold water. Turn the machine back on, and finish adding the neutral oil in a steady stream. If mayonnaise is thick, blend in the remaining 1 tablespoon cold water. Mayonnaise should be light, satiny and silken. Taste the mayonnaise, and add salt as needed. Set aside at room temperature.
• Transfer the cooked artichokes to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, positioning them upside down to drain. Let stand at room temperature until they are cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Then remove the stems in an even cut, leaving the artichokes with a flat base. Peel the fibrous outer layer (and any strings) off the stems, cut the stems into 1/4-inch coins and reserve.
• Place the artichokes, stem side down, on a clean work surface. Gently open up the artichokes to reveal the inner leaves, using your fingers a little like the way you might open your own eye to receive drops, or even resembling the gesture you use to enlarge an image on your iPhone screen. Then pinch the whole purple and spiky choke at the center in one handful, and pluck it out, revealing the fuzzy hair that sits firmly attached in the cup of the heart. Remove this fuzz with your fingertip, or use a small spoon to scrape it away, taking care not to gouge or dig too deep into the goose-pimpled flesh.
• To assemble, place a healthy dollop of mayonnaise in the very center of each artichoke. Spoon in a few of the stem coins, then drizzle artichoke and mayonnaise with olive oil. Serve with additional mayonnaise and lemon wedges. (Any leftover mayonnaise will keep, refrigerated, up to 1 week.)

ARTICHOKE DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a food processor, place half the artichokes, the mayonnaise, 1/4 cup Parmesan, lemon juice, and garlic. Process until smooth.
• Add scallion and remaining artichokes; pulse once to combine. Transfer mixture to a 1-quart baking dish. Top with remaining tablespoon Parmesan.
• Bake until golden and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Garnish with scallion, and serve with crudites or pita chips.

ARTICHOKES WITH CAVIAR SAUCE

Steps:

• With a serrated knife, cut off the top 1 1/2 inches of each artichoke. Cut or break off the stems flush with the bottoms and remove the outer two rows of leaves. Rub cut surfaces with the lemon half as you work. Place the trimmed artichokes in a glass or ceramic dish large enough to hold them without touching. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook at 100 percent power in a high-power oven for 10 minutes. Prick plastic to release steam.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Cover the dish with a damp cloth until artichokes are cool enough to handle. Push down on the leaves to make a flower shape and to expose the pale center leaves covering the fuzzy choke. Pull out the cone of center leaves, and with a small spoon, scrape out the choke. Allow to cool. Cover tightly, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, brandy, water, lemon juice and pepper until smooth. Stir in salmon roe and chives. Refrigerate until cold.
• Place each artichoke bottom on a plate. Spoon some of the sauce into the heart and around each artichoke, and serve.