Frankie And Johnnys Stuffed Artichoke 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.

THE BEST STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut top 1/4 of an artichoke off and discard. Trim off the top 1/2 inch from remaining leaves. Cut off bottom inch from stalk to create a flat bottom. Turn artichoke upside down and bang on surface to loosen the leaves. Zest 3/4 teaspoon of lemon zest from the lemon and set aside. Cut lemon in half and rub cut leaves and stem of artichoke with lemon. Repeat artichoke prep with remaining artichokes.
• Combine reserved lemon zest with bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and stir well.
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly into all the artichoke leaves, avoiding the thistle leaves in the direct center. Work mixture evenly into each crevice of each artichoke until all of the mixture is used.
• Pour water in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Add remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Set artichokes in the pot so that they are touching, so that they may remain upright during cooking. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until the leaves release very easily, about 1 hour.
• Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with more parsley if desired. Serve warm or room temperature.

STUFFED BABY ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Grate 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest and set aside. Quarter the lemon and squeeze the juice into a medium bowl of water; add the squeezed lemon quarters. One at a time, cut off the top one-quarter of each artichoke; pull off the tough outer leaves (there will be several layers). Using a paring knife, trim the stem and lightly peel around the bottom of the base where it meets the stem. Halve the artichokes lengthwise and add to the lemon water.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain the artichokes, pat dry and place cut-side down in the skillet; add the lemon quarters. Add the 2 smashed garlic cloves and a generous pinch of salt. Cook until the artichokes soften slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a simmer, then add 1 cup water. Cover, reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the artichokes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Uncover and remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the reserved lemon zest and the grated garlic and cook, stirring constantly, about 20 seconds. Add the breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
• Transfer the artichokes cut-side up to a platter and season lightly with salt. Top with the breadcrumb mixture and drizzle lightly with olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SHRIMP STUFFED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Trim pointy leaves and stem from artichoke and place in microwaveable dish with 1' water in bottom.
• Cover and cook on high for 7-9 minutes, or until tender.
• Drain and let cool.
• Remove and refrigerate leaves.
• Chop heart and tender center of stem; refrigerate if prepared ahead.
• Heat together olive oil and butter in a very large skillet.
• Add onions, bell peppers, green onion and garlic; cook over high heat until clear and tender, 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add canned artichokes, liquid from can, and reserved artichoke heart and stem.
• Thoroughly mix in bread crumbs, then cheeses. Remove from heat.
• Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoon stuffing onto bottom part of each artichoke leaf; use all stuffing.
• Sprinkle leaves lightly with paprika and top each with a shrimp; if needed, cut larger shrimp in half to have enough for all leaves.
• Serve on pretty platter.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY'S STUFFED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Slice off the pointed ends of each artichoke.
• Rub a lemon on the cut ends to prevent browning.
• Slice off the stem end of each artichoke so that they sit up straight.
• Fry the bacon until crisp; drain.
• Crumble into a bowl, and mix in the next 9 ingredients.
• Spread the leaves of each artichoke as much as possible, and pack in a generous amount of stuffing around them.
• Tap each artichoke gently to let any loose stuffing fall off.
• Stand them in a casserole or roasting pan just large enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Add water to a depth of 1-1/2 inches.
• Pour a generous amount of olive oil over each artichoke, letting it seep in and top each artichoke with a slice of lemon.
• Bring the water to a boil, cover, lower the heat and steam the artichokes until the leaves pull off easily, at least 1 hour or more.
• Check the water level after about 25 minutes, and add more if necessary.
• Serve hot or warm.
• The stuffed artichokes can be prepared in advance and reheated before serving.
• Leftover stuffing keeps for 2 weeks in the refrigerator and longer in the freezer.
• Option: sprinkle grated Parmagiano Reggiano cheese over the top and place briefly under a broiler until cheese melts and begins to brown.