Italian Vegetable Dishes Recipes - Artichokes in Cheese Sauce (Carciofi in Salsa al Formaggio) Recipe

• 450 g/1lb Jerusalem artichokes, scrubbed or scraped

• 15 ml/1 tbsp lemon juice

• 25 g/1 oz/2 tbsp unsalted (sweet) butter

• 30 ml/2 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour

• 250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup milk

• 120 ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup single (light) cream

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 50 g/2 oz/1/2 cup hard cheese, grated

• 15 ml/1 tbsp breadcrumbs

• 30 ml/2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated

Method:

1. Cut the artichokes into chunks. Place in a pan of cold water and stir in the lemon juice.

2. Bring to the boil and cook for 8 minutes or until tender. Drain and transfer to an ovenproof dish.

3. Melt the butter and stir in the flour. Gradually stir in the milk until smooth. Bring to the boil and cook gently for 2 minutes, stirring all the time.

4. Stir in the cream, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute and add the hard cheese.

5. Pour the sauce over the artichokes and sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

6. Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4.