Little Artichokes ProvenÇal Style Recipes

PROVENçAL ARTICHOKE RAGOUT

Steps:

• How to trim artichokes: Fill a bowl with water, and add the juice of 1/2 lemon. Cut the stems off the artichokes, and with a sharp knife, cut away the tops - about 1/2 inch from the top for baby artichokes, 1 inch for larger artichokes. Rub the cut parts with the other half of the lemon. Break off the tough outer leaves until you reach the lighter green leaves near the middle. With a paring knife, trim the bottom of the bulb right above the stem by holding the knife at an angle and cutting around the artichoke, until you reach the light flesh beneath the tough bottoms of the leaves. Cut small baby artichokes in half, or large artichokes into quarters, and cut away the chokes if the artichokes are mature. Immediately place in the bowl of acidulated water.
• Heat the oil in a large, heavy nonstick skillet or casserole over medium heat, and add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring, until tender, about three to five minutes. Add the red pepper and about 1/4 teaspoon salt, and stir together for three to five minutes until the pepper begins to soften. Add the garlic, and stir together for another minute, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the tomatoes and a little more salt, and cook, stirring from time to time, for 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down and smell fragrant. Add the artichokes, thyme, bay leaf and enough water to cover the artichokes halfway, and bring to a simmer. Add salt and pepper, then cover and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, until the artichokes are tender and the sauce fragrant. Check from time to time and add water if necessary. Add the lemon juice, taste and adjust salt and pepper.

ARTICHOKES PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Cook 1/2 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves and a pinch of salt in a skillet with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 5 minutes. Pour in 1/2 cup white wine and reduce by half. Add 2 chopped tomatoes, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 tablespoons water, 1 strip lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, covered, 6 minutes. Stir in chopped olives, basil and salt and pepper.

ROASTED ARTICHOKE HEARTS PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Toss the artichoke hearts, olives, capers, orange zest, tomatoes and garlic with the wine, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and roast, stirring once or twice, until the tomatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a platter, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with more salt and top with the basil.

ARTICHOKES à LA BARIGOULE A CLASSIC RECIPE FROM PROVENCE

Steps:

• Fill up a medium bowl with water and add the lemon juice.
• Clean the artichokes: cut off top 1/3 of the artichoke, including spiny tops.
• Remove the outer leaves by peeling them back until they snap.
• Using a paring knife, peel stem to remove the fibrous outer layer.
• Remove any remaining tough, fibrous, dark green parts on the outside of the artichoke heart.
• With a spoon, scoop out the chokes and clean the inside of the artichoke.
• Immediately put artichokes in a bowl of water with lemon.
• In a medium sauté pan, warm up the olive oil and bacon.
• When the fat the starts to render, add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes until it starts to soften.
• Add the carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
• Drain the artichokes, shaking off any excess water, and add them to the pan.
• Add the thyme, bay leaf, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir well.
• Add the wine and cook for 2-3 minutes until the alcohol evaporates. Lower the heat, cover, and cook 40-45 minutes, until the artichokes can easily be pierced, adding a little water if they dry out.
• Discard the bay leaf, adjust seasoning to taste, add a grinding of black pepper, and transfer to a serving dish.
• Serve warm.

LITTLE ARTICHOKES, PROVENÇAL STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Combine oil and garlic in a large skillet (cast iron is good), over low heat. When garlic sizzles, add herb, olives and a pinch of salt. 2. Meanwhile, one at a time, prepare artichokes: remove hard leaves, then cut off spiky end, about an inch down from top; trim bottoms, cut artichokes in half, and add them to pan as they are ready, cut side down. When about half of them are in pan, raise heat so they brown a bit; move them around as you add remaining artichokes so that they brown evenly. 3. When artichokes brown, add tomatoes and a splash of water. Cook until chokes are tender, 10 to 20 minutes. Add water if needed. Adjust seasoning, garnish and serve hot or at room temperature.

ARTICHOKES PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Cook 1/2 chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves and a pinch of salt in a skillet with 1 table spoon of olive oil for 5 min. Pour in 1/2 cup white wine and reduce by half. Add 2 chopped tomatoes, two 9-ounce packages of frozen artichoke hearts, 3 tablespoons water, 1 strip lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, covered, 6 minutes. Stir in chopped olives, basil, salt and pepper.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES PROVENçALE

Steps:

• Using a small regular or swivel-bladed paring knife, peel the artichokes. Cut them into quarter-inch thick slices. There should be about three cups.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the artichoke slices. Cook, stirring and tossing in the oil, about two minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring and tossing, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cover. Cook about eight to 10 minutes and serve.