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Artichokes a la Mama with 3 Dips

Here they are, the delicious treats my mother prepared for us when we stayed at her house in the countryside last weekend! I have to leave out the first dinner of the evening we arrived, I was too hungry and exhausted to take any photos after the six hour drive. I got a beautiful aperitif, white wine mixed with Limoncello and mint and I was told to sit down and relax (my family knows that this is not always easy for me to do). So we all gathered in the kitchen, watched my mother cook a fruity tomato sauce with bell peppers and spaghetti, chatted and were happy to be together again!

Today I will share the recipe we enjoyed on the second night, artichokes a la Mama with three kinds of dipping sauces. This is one of her summer classics! She uses big globe artichokes with fleshy leaves, the same kind as those ripening in her garden. It's the first year that she has grown them herself and they look impressive, big plants with a strong stem crowned by a majestic globe, simply stunning! Their leaves are perfect to dip into sauces, there's a lot to nibble on before you finally reach the heart which is thick and tasty once the hairy choke is cut off. My mother always makes a few different sauces, most of the time it's a classic mayonnaise, a smooth tomato dip with black olives, thyme and basil and a yoghurt dressing mixed with hardboiled eggs.

In the next couple of days I will share three more of her recipes with you, one of the best fish soups I have ever eaten, refined with saffron and cooked with king prawns, wolfs fish and cod. Last Saturday we went a bit overboard on the sweet side and we had two desserts in one day, both are so quick to prepare that you can easily make (and eat) them after each other!

Artichokes a la Mama with 3 Dipping Sauces

For 4 people you need

  • globe artichokes 4

  • lemon 1/2

Cook the artichokes in lots of salted water together with the lemon for 35-45 minutes (closed with a lid) until you can easily pull off an outer leaf. 

For the mayonnaise

My mother whisks the mayonnaise by hand but you could also mix it with a stick mixer in a mug like I did with my aïoli.

  • organic egg yolks 2

  • olive oil around 250ml / 8.5 ounces (more or less, depending on the size of the egg yolks)

  • Dijon mustard to taste

  • freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste

  • salt and pepper

Whisk the egg yolks and slowly add the olive oil. Stop adding more oil when the texture is thick (it will take a few minutes) and season with the lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper to taste. 

For the tomato dip

  • medium tomatoes, finely chopped, 4

  • black olives, finely chopped, 8

  • ketchup 3 tablespoons

  • fresh basil, chopped, 1 tablespoon

  • thyme leaves of 2-3 sprigs

  • balsamic vinegar to taste

  • freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste

  • salt and pepper

Mix the ingredients with a spoon to a smooth dip and season to taste. 

For the yoghurt dip

  • yoghurt 150g / 5.5 ounces

  • organic eggs, hardboiled and finely chopped, 3

  • Dijon mustard to taste

  • freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste

  • salt and pepper

  • chives, snipped, 2 tablespoons

Mix the ingredients (except the chives) with a spoon to a smooth dip and season to taste. Sprinkle with chives.

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