It's no secret artichokes are loaded with the vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants that make them a delicious and nutritious addition to any diet. Not to mention how delicious they are! But even after a year in quarantine, maybe you've finally mastered every cooking challenge in the books (hello bread-baking)- except artichoke-cooking.
We know their prickly appearance can be intimidating, which is why we created a user-friendly guide highlighting our 5 favorite methods for cooking delicious artichokes every time. We further broke down each method into 5 simple steps to ensure you have restaurant-worthy artichokes ready to enjoy in no time!
This longtime, trusted method is still an all-time favorite. All you need is a 425 degree oven and heavy duty foil to conquer the art of tender, baked artichokes. The most important step is to tightly wrap each individual artichoke with 2 layers of foil, so the leaves can steam and become tender. Once fully cooked, unwrap and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces as a simple appetizer or side dish.
Pro tip: add the herbs and spices prior to cooking, so the flavors bake deep into the artichokes as they steam. For classic flavors, we enjoy olive oil, lemon, and lots of garlic between the petals.
A steamer basket is the main star here for artichoke cooking method #2. Just add water to the bottom of the pot (but not above the steamer basket line) and place your artichokes stem side up in the steamer basket. Bring the pot to a boil, cover, and wait patiently as the magic unfolds. When your knife cuts easily through the stem, you’ll know your artichokes are cooked to perfection.
Fun Fact: Did you know that steaming vegetables, as opposed to boiling, significantly helps them retain their nutrients? Boiling vegetables causes vitamins and nutrients to leach out directly into the water, which is another reason we recommend the steaming method.
The microwave is a well-utilized and readily available kitchen appliance that yields equally tender artichokes and requires very little prep time. When you already have a protein baking in the oven and mashed potatoes on the stove, turn to the microwave for a quick artichoke appetizer. Place the trimmed artichokes stem-side down on a microwave safe dish with your seasonings of choice, add an inch of water, then cover with plastic wrap before popping into the microwave. We truly believe the microwave will always be an infallible method for preparing our favorite green veggie!
Recipe highlight: For those that like to dip, we suggest pairing your artichoke leaves with our Chermoula Mayonnaise or Rosemary-Lemon Sauce.
Just as the name implies, the pressure cooker is one of our fastest methods for preparing tasty artichokes and truly allows you the freedom to just ‘set and forget’. Begin by adding water and lemons to the bottom of the pot and placing the artichokes stem side down on the steaming rack. Add your favorite artichoke seasonings and seal before letting the pressure cooker work its magic. Once you release the pressure, transfer to a large serving dish and top with parmesan cheese or pesto for a delicious garnish.
Recipe highlight: If you’re ready for pressure cooker ease, try our Crouton Stuffed Italian Artichokes - Instant Pot or Instant Pot Artichokes with White Wine, Capers and Burrata.
The grill takes this delectable superfood to a whole new level of nutty, smoky artichoke goodness. After artichokes are steamed, cutting each artichoke in half, and season as desired. Keep it simple with salt and pepper or season with your favorite meat rub. Heat the grill to medium high heat and lay the artichokes cut side down until you begin to see those delicious grill marks. Voila!
Pro tip: it’s important to always steam your artichokes prior to grilling, so you can achieve that soft on the inside, crispy on the outside texture that no one can resist!
Check out our infographics page to save these 5 cooking methods as a download. Along with a breakdown of the step-by-step process, we also share our ingredients, serving sizes, and recommended cook times. Let’s get cooking!
What’s your favorite way to prepare artichokes? Have you used another method other than the ones we shared? We would love to hear your tried and true cooking methods and recipes!