Artichokes with Minced Meat and White Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 kilo frozen artichokes
• 2 cups finely minced meat
• 1 dry onion
• 2 tablespoons fried pine nuts
• A pinch of seven-spice mix
• A pinch of salt
• A pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses
• Vegetable oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 medium tablespoons flour

Method

1. Wash the artichokes and place them in a pot of boiling water.
2. Add the lemon juice to the artichoke boiling water and simmer the artichokes over low heat for 15 minutes.
   Timers: 15 min
3. Meanwhile prepare the artichoke filling. Sauté the finely chopped onion in a little vegetable oil.
4. When the chopped onion wilts, add the minced meat.
5. Add the spices, cinnamon, and salt, and one minute before turning off the heat after the meat is cooked add the pomegranate molasses.
6. Sprinkle the fried pine nuts over the meat-and-onion filling.
7. Remove the artichokes from the boiling water but keep the cooking liquid for later to prepare the sauce.
8. Stuff the artichokes with the minced meat and arrange the stuffed artichokes in a baking dish or oven-safe glass dish.
9. On the side, place a tablespoon of butter in a small pot over the heat, add the flour and sauté it briefly, then gradually add the reserved artichoke cooking water while stirring continuously.
10. Stir the seasoned sauce made with the artichoke cooking water using a whisk until it thickens slightly.
11. Pour the tangy white sauce over the artichokes.
12. Cover the artichoke dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the artichokes are cooked, adjusting for your oven strength.
    Timers: 20 min
13. Serve the artichokes with minced meat and white sauce alongside cooked rice with or without vermicelli according to preference.