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tray-baked artichokes with almonds, breadcrumbs and herbs

snacks and sides | serves 4
This sort of veg dish is good for anything – from using as antipasti to serving with meat or fish.

To prepare the artichokes, simply trim 5cm below and above the base of the choke. Now what you need to do is trim back your artichoke leaves one by one, clicking them off until you get to the lovely paler yellow and more tender leaves. Using a pointed teaspoon, insert it right into the centre of the artichoke flower and slowly turn it to remove the fluffy choke. Have a little peer in and try to remove most of the choke. Rub the artichoke with lemon to stop it discolouring. You'll get the hang of it when you do the rest. You'll be left with 8 whole trimmed artichokes.

Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Toss the garlic, almonds, breadcrumbs and herbs into a bowl, season, and loosen with a little olive oil. Scrunch together with your hands and stuff this mixture into the middle of each artichoke, really packing it in. You want to fit these snugly side by side in an appropriately-sized baking dish. Sprinkle any excess filling over the top, drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil and pour in your wine. Rip off a big enough piece of greaseproof paper, wet and scrunch it under a tap, then tuck it over the artichokes and round the edges of the dish. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then remove the greaseproof paper and bake for a final 10 minutes. Serve in the middle of the table with seafood or any white meat.


• from Happy Days with the Naked Chef