Braised Meatballs With Artichokes And Fennel Recipes

SLOW-BRAISED MEATBALLS WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Begin by preparing the meatballs. Remove crusts from bread and soak in milk.
• In a large mixing bowl combine veal, beef and pork. Squeeze out excess milk and add bread, onion, garlic, thyme and egg. Season with salt and pepper and mix well to combine. Make small golf ball sized balls. Set a heavy-based roasting dish over medium-high heat. Add a 3-count of olive oil and brown meatballs. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes ensuring to brown meatballs evenly all over. Turn the heat up to high and add red wine and beef stock. Bring to a boil then cover pan with aluminum foil and bake in oven for 45 minutes basting the meatballs every 20 minutes. If all the liquid evaporates add some more beef stock as you go. When done, remove the meatballs and set aside. Set the pan with the braising liquid on the stove top over medium heat, add honey, mustard, caraway seeds and reduce until thick and syrupy. Finish with creme fraiche and season with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
• Place cranberries with orange juice in a small saucepan and simmer until sauce is pulpy and thick - about 10 minutes. For an appetizer, serve meatballs skewered on toothpicks with cranberry sauce on the side.

ROMAN-STYLE BRAISED FENNEL

Steps:

• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, melt butter over medium. Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add oil and garlic, and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add fennel, wine, lemon juice, oregano, parsley and 1½ cups of water, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high, stirring to evenly coat the fennel in the liquid. Arrange the fennel in an even layer.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium and braise until fennel is tender, about 30 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway through.
• Transfer fennel to a serving platter, and spoon over the shallots and sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley, and serve warm or at room temperature.

BRAISED FENNEL AND ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large, straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and chile and cook until garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add fennel, artichokes, lemon peel, thyme, and wine to skillet; stir to combine. Bring to mixture to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fennel is tender, about 25 minutes. It may be necessary to add water if liquid evaporates too quickly.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer solids to a bowl; set aside. Increase heat to high and reduce liquid by half. Pour reduced liquid over the fennel and artichoke mixture. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.