ROASTED ARTICHOKE HEARTS AND FENNEL WITH TOMATOES AND BLACK OLIVES

ROASTED ARTICHOKE HEARTS AND FENNEL WITH TOMATOES AND BLACK OLIVES image

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 pound package pasta
6 artichokes
1 lemon
Extra virgin olive oil
6 cloves of garlic, minced and divided
3 tbs unsalted butter
1 bulb fennel, sliced into 2 inch pieces
2 cups cherry tomatoes
½ cup oil packed sun dried tomatoes
½ cup kalamata black olives
½ cup white wine
½ cup chicken or vegetable stock
¼ cup fresh parsley
Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Steps:

Preheat oven 425. Remove top 1/3 of each artichoke. Rub with lemon to prevent any discoloration. Remove outer tough leaves, and the fuzzy inside choke with a pairing knife. Peel and slice off stem, and set aside. Place artichoke on top of piece of heavy duty foil, large enough to hold 2 artichokes along with their stems sealed tightly as a packet. Pull open each artichoke and insert ½ tablespoon of butter and sprinkle with ½ the minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Then, drizzle with lemon, olive oil. Tightly enclose 2 artichokes to each foil packets, so that there are three packets all together. Double wrap them so that there is no leakage in the oven. Put each packet on the top oven self and allow it to roast for 30 minutes. Toss the fennel in a bowl with salt and pepper. Lay them onto a rimmed sheet pan and roast on the middle shelf for 20 minutes. Do the same with the cherry tomatoes and place in a pie dish on the middle shelf next to the fennel for 20 minutes. Bring a pot of salted pasta water to a boil. When the artichokes come out of the oven, open the packets allowing them to cool faster. When cool enough to handle, remove the leaves and stems and set them aside for another use. Cut up the hearts into 1 inch pieces and place them inside any remaining juice from the foil packets. Bring a 12" sauté pan to medium heat and add 2-3 tablespoons of the oil. Add the minced garlic and when it begins to color, add the wine. Allow the wine to reduce slightly before adding the stock. Add the stock, both tomatoes, olives, fennel, and artichokes with any remaining juice. Adjust for salt and pepper. Squeeze in any remaining lemon juice. Allow the sauce to simmer on medium low for 15 minutes. 10 minutes before serving, add the pasta to the water and cook until al dente. Save about a ½ cup of pasta water just in case. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Add parsley. Add some of the pasta water if needed. Serve it with freshly grated cheese.