Recipe of the week - Artichokes - the easy way

Two recipes for the price of one today!

Artichokes (the easy way)

First choose your artichokes - the sharp leaved ones are local and the rounded ones tend to be imported.

First you have to clean your artichokes by removing the leaves and the choke ( the furry bit in the middle) cut out the hearts and put in lemon juice as they turn brown quickly… or buy frozen!  

You will need onions or spring onions - whichever you prefer

Αγγιναρες - Artichokes

Use a packet of frozen artichokes - Cook from frozen

Cubed potatoes to taste.

Put a little oil in a pan and fry chopped onions. Add garlic after a couple of minutes. When onions caramelised add the potatoes and a chopped carrot. Then add dill, fennel, mint, orange peel, bay leaf, oregano and pepper and a stock cube.

5 minutes later add the artichokes with a little hot water poured round the edge of the pan. Don't add too much as the artichokes will give off water as they cook.

Add the juice of one lemon near the end of the cooking time. 

Test artichokes with a toothpick to know when they are done.

Artichokes 2

Serves 6

Half a packet of frozen artichokes.

Fry onions with a splay of vinegar and  a teaspoon of sugar. ( Add as they are frying) 

Add a spoon of tomato paste and garlic, bay leaf and parsley after the onions have begun to cook.

Add a little hot water, stock cube, oregano, pepper, half a tin of tomatoes and chopped potatoes.

Mix together and add half a packet of artichokes.

Add a bit more water if needed. Add a dash of wine

Turn heat down, put lid on and simmer for 50 mins. until ready, test with a toothpick.