Dijon Style Artichoke Dip Recipes

Steps:

• Fill 5-quart saucepan two-thirds full with water. Heat to boiling.
• Use knife to trim thick stem at bottoms of each artichoke. Using scissors, snip off tips of leaves. Cut and discard 1 1/2 inches off top of each artichoke. Rinse artichokes thoroughly with cold running water, and transfer them to pan of boiling water. Add juice of 1 lemon and salt to taste. Cover; cook over medium-low heat about 45 minutes or until bottoms of artichokes are tender.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat dipping sauce ingredients with whisk until emulsified. Pour into dipping bowl, and set aside.
• Gently remove cooked artichokes from hot water and place upside down on cooling rack to drain 5 minutes. Turn right side up, and gently pull open tops of artichokes until you see pale yellow leaves, and pull those out to reveal the hairy choke. Use a spoon to scoop out the choke. Use your hands to gently close up the artichokes.
• To eat, pull off leaves starting at base, dip in sauce and bite off soft part found at base of each leaf. Discard remaining part of leaf. Once all leaves are gone, you will find the artichoke heart. Eat that part with the help of a fork and knife, dipping it in 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.