snack | The Cupcake Forest

Baked Artichoke

So yes, I admit it… it was been way to long since my last post. After waking up with a monster sore throat I decided what is a better cure than some nice hot molten cheese? I was first thinking grilled cheese but then it is supposed to be the second day of spring and all that so I thought what a perfect idea- artichokes baked with some delicious cheese. This would be a great kitchen adventure since I have never cooked an artichoke!

After getting some fresh gigantic artichokes from the store I started by peeling all of the tough outer leaves off of them. I trimmed the top inch of of each artichoke. Then I sliced the stem right near the base of the artichoke and put that in a boiling pot of salted lemon water. To make them really tender I cooked them for thirty minutes and then drained them upside down on a kitchen towel for another thirty minutes. These little gems were cool to the touch and I scooped out the center with a spoon. I filled them with a blend of Gorgonzola cheese, fresh thyme, italian parsley, lemon zest, salt, pepper and a touch of heavy cream. I stuffed them full of the cheese blend and then topped with some bread crumbs.

I placed both artichokes into a small baking dish and drizzled the tops with olive oil. I let them bake for about 25 minutes at 400. These were the perfect little snack for a Sunday afternoon. This is a nice new take on artichoke dip since most recipes call for the use of mayo. I thought this might be a fun and pretty side or appetizer for a dinner party in the future, and it is vegetarian friendly. Enjoy!