Best Classic Stuffed Artichokes Recipes

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cook's Note: Before starting this recipe be aware that there is a lot of waste involved in artichokes. It's ok. Just accept it and move on.
• Squeeze 1 lemon into a large bowl filled with water and place the lemon halves in the water.
• Cut off the pointy tops of the artichokes. Remove and reserve the stem of the artichoke. Peel off the tough green outer leaves and discard.
• Gently spread the leaves of the artichoke. Using a melon baller, scoop out the hairy "choke" in the center of the artichokes. When clean reserve them in the lemon water. Remove the tough outer skin on the stems and reserve them in the lemon water as well.
• In a small bowl combine the garlic, herbs, Parmesan, bread crumbs, crushed red pepper, pine nuts and anchovies, if using. Finely chop the reserved artichoke stems and add them to the bowl. Zest and juice the remaining lemon and add that to the bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil until the mixture forms a paste. Season with salt.
• Stuff the artichokes with the paste.
• Place the artichokes standing up in a saucepan large enough to accommodate them. Add the wine to the saucepan and enough lemon water to come 3/4 up the sides of the artichokes. Add the lemon halves to the pan also. Drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt.
• Cover the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the base of the artichokes are tender when poked with a fork.
• Serve hot or room temperature drizzled with generous amount of olive oil.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Squeeze the lemon halves into a large bowl and fill the bowl with cold water. Trim the bottom off each artichoke. Trim off the tough outer leaves. Snip the thorny tips off the top leaves. As each one is completed, place it in the lemon water to prevent it from discoloring.
• In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, and parsley and season with pepper. Pull each leaf open slightly from each artichoke and stuff a little filling into the opening. Place the artichokes snugly side by side in a large pan with a tight-fitting lid. Add 1 inch of water to the pot. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and steam until the bottoms of the artichokes are tender, 35 to 45 minutes; a knife should insert easily. Make sure the water doesn't boil dry. Add more water if necessary.
• Serve each artichoke hot, on an individual plate.

CLASSIC STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• 1. Prepare a large bowl or pan for artichoke soak. Put water and about 1 TB. lemon juice in bowl or pan. Set aside. It should be able to hold 4 artichokes. I use a LARGE salad bowl.
• 2. Cut off thick stems of artichoke so it can stand on its own (also cut off ragged bottom of stem). Trim hard outer layer of stem off and throw away. Chop your stem in fine pieces and put aside. Cut off top of artichoke and trim off the edges of the leaves (the prickly parts) with kitchen shears. With artichoke on plate, open artichoke up gently by sticking your thumbs in the middle of each layer and push out a bit. Do this gently as not to break the leaves. It will resemble a flower. After each artichoke is prepared, drop it in the lemon water so it won't brown.
• 3. Mix Bread crumbs, garlic, Parmesan cheese, artichoke stem pieces, parsley, salt and pepper in a large cake mixing bowl. Add oil (more or less what I posted) to mixture until the mixture starts to hold together a bit (like streusel topping) and ball up a little when you squeeze it. I do this part with clean hands to FEEL the consistency. When this is done - retrieve an artichoke from lemon water and shake excess water off before stuffing it.
• 4. Set one artichoke in bowl with bread crumb mixture and start stuffing the filling between each leaf, starting on the outside, working your way toward the middle. Stuff the meatiest leaves, the last ¼ towards the middle doesn't really need the stuffing. After all the artichokes are stuffed, you can put any extra stuffing on top to fill in the cracks and make it even. Place the artichokes in a very wide deep cooking pot. You want the artichokes to JUST fit in the pan, crowded (they hold up better this way) and able to cover with a pot lid. Fill skillet or pot with water 1 to 2 inches up the side of the artichoke. Drizzle tops of artichokes with good olive oil. Partially cover the pan with lid leaving ½ or 1 inch open to let some steam out and bring to boil, then turn heat down to low and simmer. The artichokes will take at least 1 hour to cook and up to 2 hours depending on the size of the artichokes. Keep a small pitcher of water close by to refill the water if it gets too low. If you don't, the water will steam out and burn the artichokes.
• 5. It will be ready when you are able to easily pull a leaf from the center out and the artichoke is very tender. I serve with melted butter and lemon slices or a mixture of:1/2 c. Sour Cream, 1 TB Horseradish, ½ teas. Lemon Pepper, and 1 TB. Lemon juice. Don't forget the HEART...it's the best part!

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Mix 3 cups breadcrumbs, 3 grated garlic cloves, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1 cup each grated parmesan, pecorino, chopped parsley and olive oil in a bowl. Trim 4 large artichokes (see Cook's Note), removing the stems. Separate the leaves; stuff the crumb mixture between each. Stand upright in a steamer basket over simmering water, cover and steam over medium-low heat, adding more water as needed, until tender, about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and some of the cooking liquid.

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Squeeze the juice from the lemon halves into a large pot of cold water; add the squeezed lemon halves and the whole garlic. Cut off the top quarter of each artichoke and discard. Use a small sharp knife to trim the stem of the artichokes. Starting at the base, bend the tough outer leaves back and snap off where they break naturally, leaving the tender inner leaves. Trim the outside of the base until no dark green areas remain. Cut the artichokes in half and then into quarters. Cut out the fibrous choke and small purple-tipped leaves. Submerge the artichoke quarters in the lemon water. Cover and boil until the artichokes are tender, about 45 minutes. Drain. Set the artichoke quarters aside to cool to room temperature.
• Mix together lemon juice, herbs, garlic, lemon peel, capers, bread, and tomatoes in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange artichokes, cut side up, on 2 platters. Spoon the tomato mixture into the center of the artichoke quarters, dividing equally. Drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with the parsley sprigs and serve.

ITALIAN STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim the stem of an artichoke so the base is flat and even. Trim the top inch off the artichoke and remove and discard any tough, woody outer leaves. Gently open up the leaves to get to the center. Using a spoon, scoop out the fuzzy choke in the center. Using scissors, trim off the sharp points of the large outer leaves. Rub and pour lemon juice all over the inside and outside (reserve half of the juice). Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Mix together pulverized crackers, Pecorino, olive oil, parsley, Italian seasoning, garlic, lemon zest and salt and pepper.
• Pack each artichoke with the stuffing mixture, starting with the interior and working your way around between the outer leaves. Continue this process with the remaining artichokes. Place artichokes in an 8-inch square baking dish and add about 1 inch of chicken stock and the reserved lemon juice to the bottom of the dish. Cover tightly with foil.
• Bake until leaves pull out easily and the meat at the bottom of the leaves is tender, 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Take off foil, drizzle the artichokes with olive oil and broil until tops are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve!