Artichokes With Basil Mayonnaise Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil - large enough to submerge all four artichokes. Once the water is boiling, season it with salt to taste. Slice off the domed top quarter of the artichokes, remove the black tip of the stem and immediately place the artichokes in the boiling water. To cook the artichokes evenly and prevent them from bobbing at the surface, place a lid one size smaller than the pot you are using directly on top of the artichokes, weighing them down so they are submerged. Reduce the heat until the water is at a hard simmer, and cook the artichokes until you can easily pierce the bottom choke (where the stem meets the base) with a cake tester or the sharp tip of a thin knife with no resistance, 20 to 25 minutes.
• While artichokes cook, prepare the mayonnaise: Place the egg, egg yolks, garlic, lemon juice and two healthy pinches of salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Whiz for 5 seconds, then, with the machine on, slowly add about half the neutral oil in a thin, steady stream. Turn the machine off, and add 1 tablespoon cold water. Turn the machine back on, and finish adding the neutral oil in a steady stream. If mayonnaise is thick, blend in the remaining 1 tablespoon cold water. Mayonnaise should be light, satiny and silken. Taste the mayonnaise, and add salt as needed. Set aside at room temperature.
• Transfer the cooked artichokes to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, positioning them upside down to drain. Let stand at room temperature until they are cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Then remove the stems in an even cut, leaving the artichokes with a flat base. Peel the fibrous outer layer (and any strings) off the stems, cut the stems into 1/4-inch coins and reserve.
• Place the artichokes, stem side down, on a clean work surface. Gently open up the artichokes to reveal the inner leaves, using your fingers a little like the way you might open your own eye to receive drops, or even resembling the gesture you use to enlarge an image on your iPhone screen. Then pinch the whole purple and spiky choke at the center in one handful, and pluck it out, revealing the fuzzy hair that sits firmly attached in the cup of the heart. Remove this fuzz with your fingertip, or use a small spoon to scrape it away, taking care not to gouge or dig too deep into the goose-pimpled flesh.
• To assemble, place a healthy dollop of mayonnaise in the very center of each artichoke. Spoon in a few of the stem coins, then drizzle artichoke and mayonnaise with olive oil. Serve with additional mayonnaise and lemon wedges. (Any leftover mayonnaise will keep, refrigerated, up to 1 week.)

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat.
• Break off the artichokes' small outside leaves. Cut off the top with a knife and trim the sharp points of the leaves with scissors, rubbing with cut lemon as you go to avoid discoloration. Squeeze the lemon halves into a bowl of cold water, soak the artichokes for 10 minutes, then wash with cold water to remove sand.
• Place artichokes in a large steamer insert over simmering water and steam until heart is tender, about 25 to 35 minutes depending upon size. Allow to cool. Cut in half lengthwise and remove choke with a spoon.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Stir in the white wine and lemon juice, keep warm.
• Grill the artichokes, basting with the butter mixture, until until golden on the surface and heated through, about 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the Spicy Smoked Tomato Mayonnaise.
• Special equipment: smoker/dehydrator
• Chef's Note: If you do not have access to a smoker/dehydrator, you can substitute 4 sun-dried tomatoes and 2 teaspoons ancho or pasilla powder for the tomatoes and pasillas, eliminating the tomatoes and pasilla peppers from the recipe.
• Dry the tomatoes and pasilla peppers in an oak smoker/dehydrator overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill, preferably wood fired with oak wood, for indirect heat cooking.
• Wrap garlic and onions loosely in 2 separate foil packets and roast/grill over indirect heat until they are soft, being careful not to burn them. The garlic should take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours; the onions should take about 30 to 45 minutes.
• In a food processor, puree the smoked pasilla peppers and tomatoes with the garlic and onions. Add the cayenne, chili powder, paprika and salt. Mix in the mayonnaise. Leftover mayonnaise will keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 or 4 days.
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 to 1 1/2 hours
• Inactive Prep Time: 8 hours

Steps:

• Prepare the artichokes: Fill a large bowl with cold water. Cut the lemon into quarters, and squeeze the juice from each quarter into the water. (This acidulated water will keep the artichokes from discoloring.)
• Snap off a few of the tough outer leaves (bracts) near the stem of each artichoke. Cut each artichoke in half from top to bottom, and lay the halves cut-side down on a cutting board.
• Using a sharp vegetable peeler and working one half at a time, trim the rough edges and the stems. Cut 1/4 inch from the bottom of the stem and 1/2 inch from the top of each half. Turn the halves over and use a teaspoon or melon baller to remove the hairy "choke." Place trimmed artichoke halves in the lemon water. Leave them in the lemon water until ready to cook.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add drained artichoke halves and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove and place artichoke halves cut-side up in a stainless steel roasting pan or ceramic baking dish, in one layer.
• Tuck thyme sprigs under artichokes, and sprinkle artichokes with salt and pepper. Drizzle generously with olive oil, about 1 1/2 teaspoons per halved artichoke. Bake, uncovered and brushing with oil from the pan occasionally, until nicely browned, 30 to 40 minutes.
• As artichokes roast, make the anchovy mayonnaise: Put mayonnaise in a bowl and stir in chopped anchovies and capers, lemon zest and juice, garlic, cayenne and a little salt and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes, then taste and adjust seasoning.
• When artichokes are ready, transfer to a serving platter or individual plates. Brush lightly with oil from the pan. Sprinkle with parsley and serve anchovy mayonnaise and lemon wedges, if you like, on the side.

Steps:

• Mix the mayonnaise and garlic together in a small bowl. Add the lemon juice and basil; whisk until thoroughly combined. Beat the Worcestershire sauce into the mixture. Serve immediately, or chill until serving.

Steps:

• Fill a stockpot to half full with water. Stir Italian seasoning, basil, thyme, liquid smoke, olive oil, salt, and white wine into water. Squeeze the lemon wedges over the mixture and drop the wedge into the pot. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat; add the artichoke halves and continue to boil until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove artichokes from water and drain upside down on paper towel; allow to cool to the touch. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil grate.
• Lightly coat the cooled artichoke halves with cooking spray. Cook artichoke halves on grill until edges are slightly charred. Drizzle with melted butter to serve.

Steps:

• To make the mayonnaise, warm the uncracked eggs in a small bowl of hot tap water for 3 minutes. In a blender, combine the egg, mustard, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In a 2 cup glass measuring cup, mix the vegetable and olive oils. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the combined oils (it should take at least 1 minutes) to make a thick mayonnaise. Scrape the mayonnaise into a bowl. Stir in the basil and garlic, then 1 tablespoon hot water. Set aside. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together 2 quarts cold water and the vinegar. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, and using a large, sharp knife, cut off the stem flush with the base. Pull of any damage outer leaves, then cut 1 inch off the top. Using kitchen shears, snip off any remaining thorny leaf tips, then submerge in the vinegar water. When all the artichokes are trimmed, drain them and add to the boiling water. Cover and cook until the tough leaves at the bottom of an artichoke can be easily removed, about 40 minutes, depending on the size of the artichoke. Using tongs, transfer the artichokes, upside down to a colander to let drain. Serve the artichokes warm or at room temperature, with the mayonnaise for dipping.