27 March 2011

Artichokes with Meat and Tahini Sauce

DSC_0241
This is my quick and dirty version of a more classic stuffed artichoke dish. The traditional version takes artichoke bottoms and stuffs them with a rice, meat, and herb stuffing. The artichokes would then be layered in a dish, topped with broth or a bechamel type sauce and baked.
DSC_0233DSC_0235

Pre-prepared artichoke bottoms are very common in the Middle East and readily available frozen in a Middle Eastern grocery. They are, in my opinion, the best way to enjoy artichokes, much meatier and richer than those stringy artichoke hearts. My simple version just involves sauteeing a bit of ground meat or lamb and tossing it on top of the artichokes with a tahini sauce and toasted pine nuts and herbs. You can eat it with a knife and fork, or if the artichokes are small enough, you can eat them with your hands. This dish makes for a great quick lunch, along with some good pita bread, or you could serve it as part of a larger mezze meal.

DSC_0239


Artichokes with Meat and Tahini Sauce


8-10 prepared artichoke bottoms, frozen or fresh
1/2 lb ground lamb or beef
salt and fresh black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon each cumin, allspice
1/4 cup tahini
2 lemons
2 tablespoons thick yogurt (labne)
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
scallions or chives, diced

1. Place tahini in a bowl and add in a pinch of salt and the juice of 1 lemon. Stir to combine, the mixture will become very thick. Gradually add water to the tahini, stirring, until it is a thick but pourable consistency. Add in the yogurt. Taste to see if it needs more salt r lemon.
2. Bring a pot of water to boil with the juice of 1 lemon. Boil the artichokes until tender (just a few minutes for frozen, 15-20 minutes for fresh).
3. Meanwhile. Saute the ground meat in the pan with salt, pepper, cumin, and allspice until nicely browned.
4. Arrange the artichokes on a platter. Sprinkle the meat over top, trying to get the meat in the artichoke cups. Drizzle the tahini sauce over. Sprinkle the toasted pine nuts and scallions over top. Serve while still warm.

7 comments:

Serial Monogamist said...

This looks amazing! Next time I head over to the beach (I live in a tiny town, but there are some good international shopping options at the beach) I'll look for artichoke bottoms. They are the best part of the choke.

Sense of Home Kitchen said...

This sounds so simple, and yet so delicious. Now that I know what to do with them, I will be searching for artichoke bottoms at the market. Such beautiful photos!

-Brenda

Ensaymada said...

I love the way it looks.. A big wow is all You can hear from me...

Oliverde said...

Now I am hungry. I keep bags of these artichokes in my tiny freezer, they make me feel safe. Here in NYC you can easily buy them at Sahadi's in Brooklyn, or at the Trade Fair supermarkets in Queens. They are imported from Egypt. There is a very similar dish, made with tomato sauce with parsely and spiced lamb.

MamaFaMi said...

Looks lovely. Making me hungry :D

Figs, Bay, Wine said...

How delicious! I have a food snob coming for lunch on Tuesday, and I suddenly know what to make him. Thank you!!

Australia said...

Im thankful that i found your site since im looking for a recipe that is something new.