Orzo With Artichoke Pesto And Grilled Corn Recipe 485

Steps:

• Make the béchamel and set aside.
• Prepare the artichokes. Fill a bowl with water and add the lemon juice. Cut away the stem and the top third of each artichoke, break off the leaves and trim them down to the bottoms, placing them in the water as you go along. Quarter them and slice large quarters about 1/4 inch thick. Save the leaves and steam them; serve them as a first course or a side dish.
• Drain the artichoke hearts and dry on a clean dish towel. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the sliced artichoke hearts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and tender, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down the heat and add the garlic. Cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 2-quart baking dish. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the orzo. Cook 5 minutes, add the peas and continue to boil for another 4 minutes, until the orzo is just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add the artichokes, herbs, béchamel and Parmesan and stir together until the sauce coats all of the other ingredients. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes, until lightly colored on top.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place in a large serving bowl. Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. Using a pastry brush, brush the corn with oil. Grill, turning frequently, until the corn is tender, about 10 minutes. Allow the corn to cool slightly. Using a large knife, remove the kernels and add to the serving bowl. Pesto In a food processor, combine the artichokes, walnuts, parsley, oregano, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil. Blend, scraping down the sides of the bowl, as needed, until the mixture is thick and smooth. Chop the remaining artichoke hearts into 3/4-inch pieces and add to the serving. Add the pesto, tomatoes and parm. Toss until all the ingredients are coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve. cook's notes To toast the walnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.