artichoke

Behold: another wonderful use for precious sourdough discard, this time in a flatbread/pancake form. This sourdough artichoke pancake with spicy tomato labneh is filled with herbs and artichoke hearts and fried up to a beautiful crispness. Feel free to mix and match different herbs and spices, but the below combination works quite well. The savory artichokes, fragrant chives and parsley, and spicy tomato labneh, make this sourdough artichoke pancake a tasty snack or satisfying meal. 

ingredients

for the artichoke pancake

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • ½ cup artichoke hearts, diced
  • 1 tablespoon chives
  • 1 tablespoon parsley
  • ½ cup sourdough discard
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

for the tomato labneh

  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup labneh
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

artichoke pancake steps

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in an 8-inch pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 2-4 minutes, until golden. Add the diced artichoke heart, chives, and parsley and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Swirl it around so that it evenly coats the pan. Pour the sourdough discard into the pan and add the salt and pepper. Let it cook until the edges begin to brown, about 4 minutes, then add the garlic and artichokes. Cook for another 4 minutes then flip and cook for another 4 minutes until the edges are crisp and golden. The pancake will puff up as it cooks.

tomato labneh steps

Mix the tomato sauce, labneh, and crushed red pepper until evenly combined. Serve chilled alongside the artichoke pancake.

Today we composted the outdoor gardens in preparation for the cold months ahead. Our community composts regularly and it is always incredible to see how food scraps and everyday waste are turned into nutrients for nature. Preparing for winter left me yearning for one of my favorite cozy dishes – cheesy stuffed artichokes.

I grew up eating this veggie, and though their season is at its peak in March, artichokes are basically available year-round these days. Cheesy stuffed artichokes became a family favorite of mine, as they always seemed so special whenever my parents served it. The recipe is, in fact, pretty simple.

I prepared this recipe for two, with a date in mind, but it can easily be doubled or tripled depending on the number of people you want to feed. Serve these cheesy stuffed artichokes as a side to a simple lemon pasta or as the main event with a glass of wine!

Note: If you only have plain breadcrumbs, you can season them at home with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried parsley, and crushed red pepper!

Serves 2

ingredients

  • 4 artichokes (I prefer artichokes with larger leaves as there is more room to stuff!)
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella

steps

Turn the oven broiler on. Wash the artichokes, cut their stems to make flat bottoms, and snip the tops of artichoke leaves (they can be very sharp!)  Pull back the leaves to loosen them.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place a steamer basket or a colander inside. Lay slices of lemon directly on the steamer basket or colander and place artichokes directly on the lemon slices. Cover with a lid and steam for 20 minutes.

Remove the artichokes from the pot and let cool for 5 minutes or until they are cool enough to the touch without burning your fingers!

Place the steamed lemon slices beneath the artichokes on a pan lined with parchment paper. Separate the artichoke leaves and drizzle olive oil inside. Fill the leaves with seasoned breadcrumbs first, then tuck mozzarella inside the leaves. Be sure to evenly distribute the breadcrumbs and mozzarella among every leaf to ensure every bite is tasty!

Place in the broiler for 7-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and browning and leaves are crisp.

Use a scissor to trim the sharp leaves
Spread apart the leaves to fill with delicious breadcrumbs and cheese
When eating, work your way in from the outer leaves