1/2 a lemon and 1/2 a preserved lemon, fairly finely chopped

1tbsp olive oil

1oz unsalted butter

2 globe artichokes

2 bay leaves

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

3tsp sage, chopped

1 small pinch of saffron

4 good-quality, properly ripe tomatoes, preferably plum

2fl oz chicken stock

 

Heat the oven to 350F. Trim the fibrous outer layer from the fennel bulbs and cut into quarters. Reserve the fennel fronds to scatter over the finished dish. Squeeze over a little of the lemon juice. In a heavy-based saucepan add the olive oil and butter. Place over a medium flame and, once the butter begins to melt, add the fennel, season with a little salt and cook gently for 10 minutes or so. Meanwhile, trim the artichoke. This is not as hard as it seems, but it is imperative that your knife is very sharp. Lay it on its side and bring your knife down about a third of the way down the artichoke and simply cut all the way through. Throw away the top and trim all the way around the base until you come to the choke. All that is left to do now is to cut the choke in half and, with a small knife, trim out the spiky, fibrous inner core. Now, quickly rub the artichoke with the half lemon before adding it to the fennel along with the bay leaves, garlic and sage. Add the saffron and stir to combine. Roughly chop the (omega) tomatoes and add to the pan, along with the preserved lemon, followed by the stock. Cover and place in the oven for 40 minutes or until the fennel is very tender. Check for seasoning and pour into the bowl, then serve with basil oil and some grated Parmesan.

 

 

Yield:

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