Baby Artichokes With Warm Vinaigrette Recipes

ARTICHOKE SALAD WITH WARM TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Snap tough outer leaves off artichokes; using a serrated knife, remove top third from each. Trim stems so artichokes stand upright. Rub cut surfaces with lemon (to prevent discoloration).
• Place artichokes in a wide pot, stemmed-sides up. Add enough water to come about a third of the way up sides. Season water with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and steam until artichoke hearts are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes, stemmed-sides up, to a towel-lined plate to drain. When cool enough to handle, use a spoon to remove center leaves from each artichoke, then to scrape out and discard chokes. Transfer artichokes to refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss bread with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cook bacon in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until fat has rendered and bacon is crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels; discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil, shallot, and a pinch of salt to skillet; cook over medium heat until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and capers; cook until reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomato and season with salt and pepper; cook until heated through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in oregano and croutons. Season to taste.
• Score an X in the inside of each artichoke heart with the tip of a knife, then spoon about 1 tablespoon dressing mixture into each. Toss remaining dressing with chicories, basil, bacon, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon vinegar. Season to taste; divide between artichokes and serve.

ROASTED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Prepare artichokes. Remove the tough outer leaves of the artichokes and trim the stems. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer green layer from the stem. Cut off the top third of the head to remove the tough ends of the leaves, then split it down the middle. Rub with lemon as you work so they don't turn brown.
• Mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic. Lay the artichoke halves cut-side up in a roasting dish and drizzle with the olive oil mixture. Roast in the oven until the artichokes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• To serve, top with the cheese and garnish with the parsley.

BABY ARTICHOKES WITH WARM VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Fill a small stockpot with water, and add 2 teaspoons salt and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cut the lemon in half, squeeze juice into water, and add squeezed halves. Remove tough outer leaves of artichokes, and pare down stems using a vegetable peeler. Add artichokes to acidulated water, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and cook until leaves are easily removed and heart is tender when pierced with a knife, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain in a colander, and set aside.
• Place 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small saute pan over medium-low heat, and add the chopped shallot. Saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and add mustard, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and red-wine vinegar. Slowly whisk in remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Serve reserved artichokes with the warm vinaigrette on the side for dipping.

GRILLED BABY ARTICHOKE, GIGANTE BEANS AND FETA SALAD

Steps:

• First, marinate the cooked Gigante beans and artichokes in the vinaigrette for marinade. Do this while they are still warm from cooking so they absorb the marinade as they cool. It is best to prepare these the day before so they fully take on the flavor of the marinade.
• Toss the artichoke halves, roasted red pepper, basil leaves, feta cheese and Gigante beans together with 3/4-ounce of the vinaigrette. Season with a pinch of pepper, as the feta is already salty.
• Place on a chilled dinner plate, making sure all elements are exposed, in a croissant- shaped mound, leaving the void on the plate at the two 'o clock position.
• Dress the arugula with the remaining 1/4-ounce vinaigrette and place in a tight bundle in the void on the plate.
• Garnish the edge of the salad with basil oil.
• Toast sliced garlic in 2 tablespoons canola oil. Whisk together the toasted garlic and all other ingredients except the remaining oils. Slowly whisk the oil into the vinegar mixture to emulsify. Season with salt, pepper, sugar.

WARM ARTICHOKE SALAD WITH BACON AND MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare a blanc: Place the four in a large pot and beat in enough cold water to make a smooth, medium-thick paste. Then beat in 2 quarts of cold water, the lemon juice and the salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove hearts from artichokes.
• Add the artichoke hearts to the water, bring to boil, the simmer gently until the hearts are just tender when pierced with a knife (about 25-30 minutes). Remove pot from heat and allow the hearts to come to room temperature in the liquid.
• Gently fry the bacon slices. Do not cook until crisp. Remove and reserve on paper towels.
• Place the mustard in a mixing bowl. Using a whisk, beat in the vinegar. Drop by drop at first, then in a thin stream, beat in the olive oil; the mixture should be medium-thick. Add the garlic, and season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove warm artichoke hearts from liquid and cut in sixths. Place in large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cut each bacon slice into 6 pieces and add to bowl. Toss with vinaigrette. Serve on 8 individual plates, sprinkled with chopped parsley.
• As a first course: Serve just as in this recipe-preferably on stark white plates for a real bistro effect. As a buffet item: This quantity will provide small portions for about 15 people.

ARUGULA AND BABY ARTICHOKE SALAD

Steps:

• Place arugula, pistachios, and croutons in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss gently to combine.
• Place place some of the artichokes in the center of a serving plate. Top with salad. Garnish with remaining artichokes and Parmesan. Serve immediately.

MARINATED BABY ARTICHOKES WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with cold water; juice the lemon into the water; set aside. Halve artichokes; if they have any pink choke, trim it from the center, leaving artichoke half intact. Transfer artichokes to acidulated water.
• Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Drain artichokes, and add to boiling water. Reduce heat to medium; gently simmer artichokes until just tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from boiling water, and drain; set aside.
• Make vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk shallot, mustard, and vinegar. While whisking, slowly add oil. Stir in tarragon; season with salt and pepper. In a large bowl, toss artichokes with 1/2 cup vinaigrette; transfer to a serving dish. Strip leaves from one sprig of thyme, and sprinkle on artichokes. Use remaining sprigs for garnish. Serve artichokes with remaining vinaigrette on the side.

PAN-ROASTED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Peel off and discard a few outer petals of the artichokes until you reach the pale, tender center. Trim the top and stem end, then quarter each artichoke. There should be no discernible choke, but if there is, remove it with a paring knife. Put the artichokes in a bowl of cold water to which the lemon juice has been added.
• In a wide, heavy, nonaluminum skillet, heat a 1/2 inch of olive oil over medium heat. Drain and blot the artichokes and, when the oil is nearly smoking, carefully add them to the skillet. Season well with salt and pepper, stirring to coat with oil. Let the artichokes brown slightly, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until they are tender when probed with a paring knife.
• Add the red pepper, garlic and parsley. Stir well and let sizzle for a minute or so. Transfer the artichokes to a platter, sprinkle with coarse salt and serve with lemon wedges, or sprinkle sparingly with red wine vinegar. Eat hot, or at room temperature.