Grilled Artichoke, Green Garlic, and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

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Photo: Romulo Yanes
Prep Time:
1 hrs
Total Time:
1 hrs 45 mins
Yield:
8

Green garlic bulbs look like scallions—they're available at many farmers' markets in the spring. If you can't find them to make this Italian appetizer, substitute the peeled cloves from a head of regular garlic and the green top of a scallion.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 5 bulbs green garlic, bottoms trimmed, and ¼ cup thinly sliced tender green tops, plus more tops for serving

  • 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (each 6 inches long)

  • 2 lemons, halved

  • 4 large artichokes, such as globe

  • Coarse salt

  • 8 ounces soft goat cheese

  • ¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving

  • 8 slices (½ inch thick) country bread, preferably sourdough

Directions

  1. Combine oil, garlic bulbs, and rosemary in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium. Reduce heat to low; simmer until garlic is golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool.

  2. Squeeze 2 lemon halves into a large bowl of water; add rinds. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, remove tough outer leaves closest to stem end, then trim pointy tips of remaining outer leaves with kitchen shears. With a serrated knife, cut off top 1 inch; with a paring knife, trim and peel stem. (Transfer to lemon water as you work to prevent discoloration.)

  3. Set a steamer basket in a large pot; add enough water to reach just below basket and bring to a boil. Squeeze remaining 2 lemon halves into pot. Add artichokes, season with salt, and cover. Steam until hearts are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a plate; let stand until cool enough to handle, then cut in half lengthwise and scoop out and discard fuzzy chokes.

  4. Strain infused oil; discard rosemary. Mash garlic bulbs into a paste and stir into goat cheese with 1/4 cup infused oil, green garlic tops, and red-pepper flakes. Season with salt.

  5. Heat grill to high. Brush artichokes with infused oil; season with salt. Grill, brushing with more oil and turning a few times, until charred in places, 8 to 10 minutes. Grill bread, turning once, until charred in places, 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly brush bread with infused oil.

  6. Remove artichoke leaves from bottoms; cut bottoms into slices and reserve leaves for eating separately. Slather grilled bread with goat-cheese mixture and top with sliced artichokes. Drizzle with more infused oil, sprinkle with more red-pepper flakes and green garlic tops, and serve.

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