Recipe: Crab-Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms

Crab-Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms

This recipe is from Chef John Folse, an award-winning chef and owner of Lafitte's Landing Restaurant in Louisiana.

What's great about this dish for parties is that you can prepare everything the day before -- in fact it's better that way as the flavors will have a chnace to develop.

12 artichoke bottoms, fresh or canned
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 cups cooked spinach
1/2 pound lump crabmeat
1/4 cup tomato ketchup
salt and cracked pepper to taste
Louisiana Gold Pepper Sauce to taste
1/2 ounce Herbsaint*
1/2 cup seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
1/4 pound butter, melted
1 ounce sherry
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

*or use Pernod as a substitute

Serves: 6
Prep Time: 1 Hour

Pre-heat oven to 350 F. If the artichoke bottoms are canned, soak in cold water for one hour to remove the brine and vinegar taste.

In a heavy-bottom black iron skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, bell pepper and garlic. Saut 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are wilted. Chop the cooked spinach very fine and add to the vegetables. Blend well and add lump crabmeat. Stir until all ingredients are well incorporated. Simmer 5 minutes and add ketchup, salt, pepper and Louisiana Gold. Lower heat to simmer and cook 10-15 additional minutes.

Add Herbsaint, blend into the crab and spinach mixture and remove from heat. Sprinkle in breadcrumbs and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Once cooled, stuff the center of each artichoke bottom with the crab and spinach mixture. Place the artichokes in a large baking pan and top with an equal portion of melted butter and sherry. Sprinkle with parsley and bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes. Serve two artichokes as an appetizer.