I know it is not artichoke season, but I love them. If I can still find them at my market, I will make them. In Rome I had the best artichoke I have ever eaten at Il Matriciano restaurant near the Vatican. It was addicting, and I could have eaten about 10 of them. Below is a traditional Roman artichoke recipe from Mario Batali. -ts
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Salt, to taste
1 tablespoon plus 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 artichokes, halved and trimmed outer leaves, choke removed, held in acidulated water (fancy talk for lemon water)
1/2 cup dry white wine
3/4 cup boiling water
- In a small bowl, combine the parsley, mint, garlic, salt and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- In the cavity of the artichoke from which the choke was removed, place 1 teaspoon of the herb mixture. Repeat this procedure with the remaining chokes.
- Arrange all chokes in a deep pan that keeps them close together, in other words, one that doesn’t give them room to fall over.
- Add the wine, boiling water, remaining oil and a pinch of salt.
- Cover and simmer on the stovetop 1 hour. Serve hot or at room temperature.
