Celery, Artichoke, and Mortadella Salad
- 8 baby artichokes (about 1 pound)
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 4 inner stalks celery, with leaves, thinly sliced on the bias
- 4-ounce chunk Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6-ounce piece mortadella, cut into matchsticks
- Clean and prepare the artichokes as illustrated (see sidebar).
- Drain the artichoke slices from the water and set into a mixing bowl and toss with the juice of the remaining lemon.
- Add the celery to the mixing bowl.
- On the coarse holes of a box grater, grate most of the cheese into the bowl, reserving a small piece for garnish.
- Drizzle the ingredients in the mixing bowl with the olive oil and season with salt.
- Toss well.
- Now add the mortadella, and toss gently.
- Arrange the salad on a serving plate, grate the remaining cheese over the top, and serve.
- To clean eight baby artichokes and prevent them from oxidizing, fill a bowl with approximately one quart of cold water, and add the juice of one lemon, plus the squeezed-out lemon halves.
- Peel and trim the stem of the first artichoke.
- Pull off any tough outer leaves and discard.
- Using a paring knife, trim away any tough parts around the base and stem of the artichoke.
- With a serrated knife, cut off the top third of the artichoke and discard.
- If the recipe calls for sliced artichoke, halve the artichoke and slice very thin lengthwise (through the stem, either by hand or on a mandoline) or crosswise.
- Repeat this process with each of the remaining artichokes.
- As you finish with each artichoke, add it to the bowl of cold water and lemon juice, to keep it fresh.
- If you are stuffing the artichokes: Once you have cut off the top third with a serrated knife, push the leaves out to expose the fuzzy purple choke.
- With a small spoon, scrape out the choke to expose the heart at the bottom of the artichoke.
- Put the prepared artichoke in the bowl of water and lemon juice to keep it fresh.
artichokes, lemons, stalks celery, extravirgin olive oil, kosher salt, mortadella
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/celery-artichoke-and-mortadella-salad-385188 (may not work)