Recipe: Baby artichoke gratin

Baby artichoke gratin

Total time: 50 minutes

Servings: 8 to 10

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4 pounds baby artichokes

1 lemon, divided, plus lemon wedges for garnish

Salt

2 egg yolks

White pepper

1 tablespoon water

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup canola oil

1/2 cup olive oil

1 cup heavy cream, whipped

3/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1. Trim the artichokes: Fill a large bowl with a couple of quarts of cold water, and squeeze in the juice of one-half of a lemon (drop in the cut lemon half too). Trim the artichokes one at a time, first snapping off the thick outside leaves, until you reach the tender, pale inner leaves. Trim the tip of the stem, but leave most of it attached to the base of the artichoke. With a sharp paring knife or vegetable peeler, shave off the dark skin of the stem, exposing the tender core. Peel around the base of the artichoke too, removing the dark-green spots where the tough leaves were attached. Cut across the leaf tips, removing the top third of the artichoke. Slice the entire artichoke in half lengthwise, splitting the bulb and stem and drop the pieces into the acidulated water.

2. Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer. While the water is heating, season it well with a few tablespoons of salt. Juice the remaining half of the lemon. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the juice, and pour the remaining juice into the pot of water.

3. Drain the artichokes, and place them in the simmering water. Simmer the artichokes until tender, 6 to 9 minutes. Drain well. Heat the broiler.

4. Make a garlic aioli: Using an immersion blender, combine the egg yolks, a pinch each of salt and white pepper, the water, the remaining tablespoon lemon juice and minced garlic cloves in a 2-cup measuring cup or in the tall beaker used for immersion blenders. Stand the immersion blender in the measuring cup, then slowly pour in the oils so they settle on top of the other ingredients. With the blender held against the bottom of the glass, pulse until the mixture begins to emulsify, which will happen almost immediately. Continue to pulse, turning the blender a bit, but keeping it pressed against the bottom of the container. Keep pulsing until most of the mayonnaise is emulsified, less than 1 minute, then slowly plunge the blender a bit to mix thoroughly. Taste the aioli and adjust the seasoning and flavoring with additional salt, pepper and lemon juice as desired. This makes about 1 cup aioli.

Alternatively, to make the aioli using a whisk: In a large bowl whisk together the yolks, a pinch each of salt and white pepper, the water, the remaining tablespoon lemon juice and the minced garlic cloves. Whisking continuously, add the oils in a very, very slow stream until the aioli thickens and all of the oil is incorporated. Taste the aioli and adjust the seasoning and flavoring with additional salt, pepper and lemon juice as desired.

5. Whip the cream: Beat the cream in a large, chilled bowl using a whisk, or in the bowl of a food processor, until whipped to firm peaks. This makes a generous cup of whipped cream.

6. In a large bowl using a spatula, gently fold the aioli into the whipped cream to make a mousseline sauce. Gently fold in the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. Taste the mousseline sauce and adjust the flavorings and seasonings as desired.

7. Arrange the drained artichokes in a 11/2-quart shallow gratin dish and gently spoon over the mousseline. Place the gratin under the broiler just long enough to lightly brown the top of the sauce, 1 to 3 minutes depending on the broiler.

8. Remove from heat and serve.

Each of 10 servings: 348 calories; 3 grams protein; 9 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams fiber; 34 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 80 mg cholesterol; 1 gram sugar; 91 mg sodium.