Il Cucinologo
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Artichoke Flans with Parmesan Sauce

17/11/2023

The artichoke flans with Parmesan sauce are a refined and tasty dish, perfect as an appetizer or as a light main course. Here is the recipe to prepare them.

Ingredients

  • 400 g cleaned artichokes
  • 1 shallot
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 eggs
  • 100 ml cooking cream
  • 40 g grated Parmesan
  • Chopped parsley to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Butter and breadcrumbs for the molds

For the Parmesan sauce:

  • 100 ml cooking cream
  • 100 g grated Parmesan
  • Salt
  • Nutmeg

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning the artichokes by removing the tougher outer leaves and the terminal part of the stem, then cutting them into wedges and placing them in water acidulated with lemon to prevent them from turning black.
  2. Chop the shallot and sauté it in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a garlic clove. When the shallot is golden, add the drained artichokes and let cook over medium heat with the lid on, adding a bit of water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Once the artichokes are tender, remove the garlic and blend them with an immersion blender until you get a homogeneous mixture.
  4. Let the artichoke mixture cool, then add the eggs, grated Parmesan, chopped parsley, cream, salt and pepper, and mix well until you have a homogeneous mixture.
  5. Butter the molds and sprinkle them with breadcrumbs, then pour the mixture into the molds and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes or until golden on the surface.
  6. While the flans are cooking, prepare the Parmesan sauce by heating the cream in a saucepan without letting it boil, then add the grated Parmesan, a pinch of salt and a grating of nutmeg. Mix until you get a smooth and homogeneous sauce.
  7. Unmold the flans and serve them accompanied by the Parmesan sauce.

Trivia

The flans lend themselves to many variations: you can add diced cooked ham to the mixture or aromatic herbs to further flavor the dish. They are perfect for making a great impression with your guests, especially if presented with a touch of elegance on the plate.