Steamed Artichokes With Almond Saffron Dip Recipe 55

STEAMED ARTICHOKES WITH TWO DIPPING SAUCES

Steps:

• STEAMED ARTICHOKES
• Prepare a bowl of water large enough to hold all of the artichokes. Peel 1 lemon with a vegetable peeler, then cut in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl.
• Remove any tough outer leaves from artichokes. Working with one artichoke at a time, use a serrated knife to cut off the top quarter of each. Use kitchen shears to trim sharp tips of the leaves. Remove any small leaves from bottom and trim stem just enough that artichoke can stand upright; place in lemon water to keep it from turning brown while repeating with remaining artichokes.
• Fill a large pot with 2 inches of water; set a steamer basket (or colander) inside pot, and bring water to a boil. Place the lemon peel and artichokes, stem ends down, in basket. Cover and steam until bases of artichokes are easily pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, about 20 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, use a small spoon to scoop out center cone; scrape out purple leaves and fuzzy choke. Serve artichokes with dipping sauces, as desired
• TARRAGON-YOGURT SAUCE
• Mix together yogurt, lemon zest and juice, tarragon, parsley, and 1 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• SPICY AÏOLI
• Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Blanch garlic until tender, 3 to 5 minutes; drain and mash garlic into a paste.
• Whisk together garlic, egg yolk, mustard, and lemon juice in a bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified. Whisk in paprika, cayenne, hot sauce, and 1 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• nutrition information
• Per Serving (artichokes)
• Calories: 61
• Saturated Fat: .1g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Carbohydrates: 14g
• Protein: 4g
• Sodium: 121mg
• Fiber: 7g
• nutrition information (TARRAGON-YOGURT SAUCE)
• Per 1/4-cup Serving:
• Calories: 30
• Saturated Fat: .6g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Cholesterol: 2.8mg
• Carbohydrates: 2.3g
• Protein: 3.6g
• Sodium: 495mg
• Fiber: .2g
• nutrition information (SPICY AÏOLI)
• Per 2-tablespoon Serving:
• Calories: 202
• Saturated Fat: 3.2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18.5g
• Cholesterol: 25.6mg
• Carbohydrates: 1.5g
• Protein: .5g
• Sodium: 287mg
• Fiber: .3g

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.

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.