Do you know what this is? Well, this is a flower…. it’s a beauty and is delicious to eat as well. I love it! ?
I made some gnocchi as well but a batter combination might be some mashed potatoes instead or why not some polenta (or even better, grilled polenta with some melted cheese and mushrooms on top). 😉
How to prepare the artichokes? Follow the below steps. Some adjustments can be done in order to adjust your own personal taste of course.
The below recipe is for the Carciofi alla romana (Roman Style Artichokes).
Ingredients:
Serves 4-6
- Olive oil
- 4-6 globe artichokes
- 4-6 cloves of garlic, finely minced
- A few sprigs of parsley, finely minced
- A few sprigs of mint, finely minced
- Salt and pepper
Preparation:
Trim each artichoke of its outer leaves and choke.
Stuffing and cooking the artichokes
Mince the garlic, parsley and mint into a rough paste, season with salt and pepper. Fill the hallowed out cores of the artichokes with this mixture, packing it in well.
Then stand the artichokes up, stems upward, in a terracotta casserole or enameled cast iron Dutch oven or other heavy pot with tall sides.
- You may need to trim off a bit more of the stem so you can cover the pot tightly.
Pour a generous amount of olive oil over the artichokes, then pour enough water into the pot to come halfway up the artichokes (not counting their stems).
Season the artichokes generously. If you have any extra garlic-and-herb stuffing, you can add it to the cooking liquid.
Cover the pot tightly. Let the artichokes braise over medium-low heat for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size and age of the vegetable.
Uncover the pot and allow the artichokes to cool before serving, moistened with a bit of the liquid.
NOTE! I never throw away the cooking liquid when I make carciofi. It is perfectly delicious. I like to serve the liquid at table, for dipping with nice crusty bread or use it with soups, make a minestra with it or simply cook some pasta or rice in that water. The taste will most definitely be different! 🙂
Buon appetito! 😉