Stuffed Toasted Hazelnut & Chive Artichokes

A tantalizing starter to enjoy before your main course, or serve with other appetizers to create the perfect Tapas!

8 mediumArtichokes, 8-9 ounces each
1Lemon, halved
1 cupWater, divided
1 cupReduced sodium chicken broth, divided
1 cupOlive oil
1 TablespoonFinely chopped garlic, divided
4 cupsFine fresh bread crumbs, from an Italian loaf
1 ½ cupsGrated Parmegiano-Reggiano
2 TablespoonsFinely chopped garlic
½ cupFinely chopped flat-leaf parsley
½ cupMinced dried Italian sausage
1 cupFinely chopped Provolone cheese
¼ cupButter Chef Toasted Hazelnut & Chive Flavored Butter

 

Preheat oven to 350�F with rack in middle.

Make stuffing: Spread bread crumbs in a shallow baking pan and toast in oven, stirring once or twice, until pale golden, about 10 minutes.

Cool completely, then toss with parmesan, garlic, parsley, sausage, provolone, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.

Drizzle melted Butter Chef Hazelnut & Chive Flavored Butter over crumbs and toss to coat.

Prepare artichokes: Cut off artichoke stems and discard. Cut off top 1/2 inch of each artichoke with a serrated knife, then cut about inch off all remaining leaf tips with kitchen shears. Rub cut leaves with a lemon half.

Separate leaves slightly with your thumbs, then pull out purple leaves from center and enough yellow ones to expose fuzzy choke. Scoop out choke with a melon-ball cutter or small spoon, then squeeze some juice from other lemon half into cavity.

Stuff artichokes: Spoon about 2 tablespoons stuffing into cavity of each artichoke and, starting with bottom leaves and spreading leaves open as much as possible without breaking, spoon a rounded teaspoon stuffing between each leaf.

Cook: Put 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup broth, 1/4 cup oil, 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in pressure cooker (without insert) or large pot and arrange 4 stuffed artichokes in liquid in 1 layer. Drizzle with olive oil.

If using pressure cooker, seal lid and cook at high pressure, according to manufacturer's instructions, 13 to 15 minutes. Put pressure cooker in sink (do not remove lid) and run cold water over lid until pressure goes down completely.

If using a regular pot, simmer artichokes, covered, until leaves are tender, about 50 minutes. Transfer cooked artichokes, along with any liquid, to a shallow bowl and keep warm, loosely covered with foil.

Repeat procedure to cook remaining stuffed artichokes.

Serve: Transfer artichokes with tongs to 8 shallow soup bowls and spoon cooking liquid around them.


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