Nola-spired Stuffed Artichoke

Name: Nola-spired Stuffed Artichoke
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 whole Green Globe artichoke; 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs; 1/2 cup crushed buttery crackers (about 12 crackers, we like Ritz); 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon Gochugaru pepper; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided; 2 anchovies, minced; 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

ACTIVE TIME: 15

TOTAL TIME: 35

There are a lot of unique dishes of Italian origin - or inspiration - that can only be found in and around New Orleans, and this is one of them. This particular version started as a culinary love letter from our culinary producer Lynne Calamia to her husband Marc, who's apparently crazy for the stuff. We've twisted it up a bit with Korean Gochugaru pepper flakes, and a bit more anchovy than is typical. Technically you can use saltines but I think Ritz play is stronger, and no they don't pay me to say that.

Photo by Lynne Calamia

Read Less

Software

1 whole Green Globe artichoke
1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/2 cup crushed buttery crackers (about 12 crackers, we like Ritz)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon Gochugaru pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 anchovies, minced
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Specialized Hardware

8-quart pot with fitted lid

Folding metal steamer basket

ACTIVE TIME: 15

TOTAL TIME: 35

Procedure

Place steamer basket into an 8-quart pot and add enough water to come up to nearly the bottom of the basket.
Trim the artichoke by cutting the stem at the base so that it sits upright. Cut the upper third off the top with a sharp chef knife or serrated bread knife then trim the sharp tips off the remaining leaves with kitchen shears. Rinse under cold running water, drain briefly stem side up then flip and place stem side down in the steamer basket.
Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover with the lid, and steam for 30-35 minutes. You'll know it's cooked when pierced easily with a paring knife at the stem, or the leaves easily pull away. Remove the artichoke and set aside to cool while you make the stuffing.
Combine the breadcrumbs, crackers, salt, Gochugaru, and garlic in a medium bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 10-inch saute pan over medium heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add the crumb mixture to the pan and cook, stirring until golden brown and fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool for 10 minutes.
Add the anchovies and lemon juice to the cooled crumbs, then fold in the parmesan and parsley.
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and set the broiler to high. Make a well in the center of the stuffing mixture and place the cooled artichoke in it. Spoon the stuffing into the spaces between the leaves until there's no more stuffing to stuff. Drizzle the top with the remaining olive oil and place on a foil-lined sheet pan. Broil for 2-3 minutes until the stuffing is brown and crisped.
To eat: pull a leaf, stuffing side up, and bite, letting your top teeth scrape off the stuffing along with the flesh from the petals. Once you reach the center, you'll want to scoop and discard the small spiny leaves along with the hairy choke with a small knife or grapefruit spoon. You'll then be rewarded with the tender heart (the best part).
Stuffed artichokes are equally delicious warm or at room temperature.