Crab-filled Artichoke Bottoms With Mornay Sauce

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 6 large artichokes
• 2 lemon wedges
• 4 cups water
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lb cooked crabmeat
• 1/4 cup minced scallion
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 tablespoons flour
• 11 1/4 cups milk, scalded
• 1/4 cup grated gruyere cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper
• 1 pinch nutmeg

Recipe

• 1 artichoke bottoms: snap off artichoke stems. snap off tough outer leaves and cut off tender inner leaves. trim reamaining green parts with veggie peeler. rub exposed surfaces with lemon wedges to prevent discoloration.
• 2 bring water, lemon juice, salt and olive oil to boil. add artichokes and boil until tender, about 20 minutes. remove artichokes and cok. reserving water. when cool enough to handle, remove chokes with spoon and return bottoms to cooking water t keep warm until ready to fill.
• 3 crab filling: mix all ingredients and set aside.
• 4 mornay sauce: beat cream and egg yolk until well comnbined.
• 5 melt butter over medium-low heat in small saucepan. stir in flour and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly and taking care not to burn. add milk and brin to gentle boil over medium-high heat while stirring. lower heat and simmer 1 minute. stir in gruyere and half the parmesan and cook, stirring, until cheeses melt. salt and peper to taste and add nutmeg. remove from heat and beat in cream-egg mixture. stir 1/4c sauce into crab mixture.
• 6 to assemble: line baking sheet with foil and butter it. place warm artichoke bottoms on baking sheet and divide crab mixture among them. spoon mornay sauce over and sprinkle with remainig parmesan. broil 4 inches from heat for 4 minutes, until heated through and nicely browned.