Steamed Artichokes With Salsa Verde Recipes

GRILLED BABY ARTICHOKES WITH MINT SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Fill a large bowl with cold water and squeeze in the halved lemon; reserve the halves. Remove the outer dark green leaves from the artichokes until only light green and yellow leaves remain. Cut off the top 1/2 inch of the artichokes. Using a paring knife, trim the stem and lightly peel around the bottom of the base where it meets the stem. Cut the artichokes in half, rub with the lemon halves and add to the lemon water.
• Make the salsa verde: Combine the mint, parsley, chile pepper, capers, anchovies, garlic and mustard in a medium bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and 6 tablespoons olive oil to make a thick, chunky sauce; season with salt. Set aside at room temperature.
• Drain the artichokes and pat dry. Toss the artichokes in a large bowl with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt. Grill the artichokes, turning occasionally, until tender and charred in spots, 6 to 10 minutes, depending on their size. Toss with the salsa verde while still warm.

STEAMED ARTICHOKES WITH VINAIGRETTE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Lay an artichoke on its side on a cutting board. Using a large, sharp knife, cut away the entire top quarter in one slice. Rub the top with the cut lemon. Cut off the stem at the bottom, so the artichoke will stand upright, and rub the bottom with lemon. Pull off the tough bottom leaves (bracts). Then, using scissors, cut away the thorny end of each remaining bract. Rub the edges with lemon.
• Bring two inches of water to a boil in a steamer or pasta pot, and place the artichokes in the steaming basket. If they are too big to fit, place them directly in the water. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 45 minutes or until a leaf easily pulls away. Remove from the heat. Serve hot or at room temperature with a sauce for dipping the leaves. Use your teeth to scrape the flesh from the bottom of the leaf. Have a bowl or plate on the side for the discarded leaves. When you reach the papery leaves that cover the heart in the middle, cut them away along with the choke and discard. Divvy up the heart and enjoy.
• Whisk together the vinegar, salt, Dijon mustard and garlic. Whisk in the mayonnaise, yogurt and olive oil, and blend well. Taste, adjust salt, and add pepper. Use as a dip for artichokes or other vegetables.

CRISPY ARTICHOKE FLOWERS WITH SALSA VERDE

Steps:

• Trim and fry artichokes:
• Fill a large bowl with 6 cups cold water and squeeze juice from 1 lemon into bowl.
• Cut stems of artichokes flush with base. Bend back outer leaves of 1 artichoke until they snap off close to base, then discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until exposed leaves are pale green at top and yellow at base. Cut off pale-green top of artichoke. Carefully spread leaves and scrape out purple leaves and hairy choke with a melon baller or spoon. Trim fibrous parts from base and rub artichoke all over with a lemon half. Place in bowl of lemon water, then repeat trimming process with remaining artichokes.
• Drain artichokes well, stem ends up. Heat oil in a deep 2-quart saucepan over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers about 200°F, then submerge artichokes with tongs, stem ends down, in oil. Simmer until artichokes are tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Reheat oil over moderate heat until deep-fat thermometer registers 365°F. Spear 1 artichoke, through center of stem end, with a long kitchen fork and immerse (still on fork) into oil. Fry until leaves are open, browned, and crisp, 30 to 40 seconds. Drain well, stem end up, on paper towels and repeat frying process with remaining artichokes. Make sure oil returns to 365°F for each artichoke.
• Make salsa verde:
• Whisk together lemon juice, anchovy paste, and oil until blended. Stir in shallot, capers, and parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve artichokes hot, warm, or at room temperature with sauce.

SIMPLE STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut stem from artichokes and discard, making sure the bottom of each artichoke is flat. Cut top 1 inch (or so) of the artichoke and discard. Snip the thorny ends from each artichoke leaf with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• Fill the bottom of a pot with a couple of inches of water, adding garlic, lemon juice, and bay leaf to the water. Place a steamer basket in the pot, making sure that the water does not flow over the bottom of the steamer basket.
• Place the artichokes in the basket, resting on the flattened bottoms.
• Bring water to a boil, cover the pot, and cook until the leaves can be easily pulled from the artichoke, 20 to 30 minutes.