Artichokes With Tomato Bacon Vinaigrette Recipes

GRILLED ARTICHOKE WITH SMOKED TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place artichokes, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and fill pot with enough cold water to cover the artichokes in a large pot. Boil for 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. Remove artichokes from pot and let cool.
• Preheat grill. When artichokes have cooled, slice in 1/2 lengthwise and remove the choke. Brush each half with the remaining oil, season with salt and pepper and grill cut-side down for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn over and grill an additional minute.
• Place tomatoes, salt and pepper, vinegar, garlic and basil and olive oil in a blender and blend until smooth.

ARTICHOKE SALAD WITH WARM TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Snap tough outer leaves off artichokes; using a serrated knife, remove top third from each. Trim stems so artichokes stand upright. Rub cut surfaces with lemon (to prevent discoloration).
• Place artichokes in a wide pot, stemmed-sides up. Add enough water to come about a third of the way up sides. Season water with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and steam until artichoke hearts are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer artichokes, stemmed-sides up, to a towel-lined plate to drain. When cool enough to handle, use a spoon to remove center leaves from each artichoke, then to scrape out and discard chokes. Transfer artichokes to refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss bread with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Cook bacon in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until fat has rendered and bacon is crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels; discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil, shallot, and a pinch of salt to skillet; cook over medium heat until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and capers; cook until reduced slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomato and season with salt and pepper; cook until heated through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in oregano and croutons. Season to taste.
• Score an X in the inside of each artichoke heart with the tip of a knife, then spoon about 1 tablespoon dressing mixture into each. Toss remaining dressing with chicories, basil, bacon, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon vinegar. Season to taste; divide between artichokes and serve.

WARM ARTICHOKE SALAD WITH BACON AND MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare a blanc: Place the four in a large pot and beat in enough cold water to make a smooth, medium-thick paste. Then beat in 2 quarts of cold water, the lemon juice and the salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove hearts from artichokes.
• Add the artichoke hearts to the water, bring to boil, the simmer gently until the hearts are just tender when pierced with a knife (about 25-30 minutes). Remove pot from heat and allow the hearts to come to room temperature in the liquid.
• Gently fry the bacon slices. Do not cook until crisp. Remove and reserve on paper towels.
• Place the mustard in a mixing bowl. Using a whisk, beat in the vinegar. Drop by drop at first, then in a thin stream, beat in the olive oil; the mixture should be medium-thick. Add the garlic, and season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove warm artichoke hearts from liquid and cut in sixths. Place in large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cut each bacon slice into 6 pieces and add to bowl. Toss with vinaigrette. Serve on 8 individual plates, sprinkled with chopped parsley.
• As a first course: Serve just as in this recipe-preferably on stark white plates for a real bistro effect. As a buffet item: This quantity will provide small portions for about 15 people.

ARTICHOKES WITH TOMATO-BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• With a serrated knife cut artichoke stems flush with bottoms. Cut off and discard top inch from artichokes. In a saucepan cover artichokes with salted water and bring to a boil. Simmer artichokes, covered, until just tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While artichokes are cooking, coarsely chop bacon and in a skillet cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden. With a slotted spoon transfer bacon to paper towels. Halve and seed tomatoes and cut into 1/4-inch dice. Finely chop shallot and capers. In a bowl combine lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in oil in a slow stream until emulsified and add bacon, tomatoes, shallot, and capers.
• Drain artichokes upside down on a rack and arrange each on a plate. Separating leaves slightly, drizzle vinaigrette between leaves and onto plates.