How to Cook Artichokes
Learning how to cook artichokes is easy. You'll love this mild flavored vegetable.
Fresh artichoke is one of my favorite vegetables to eat and there are so many different ways to prepare artichokes.
Roasted artichoke, stuffed artichokes, grilled artichoke, the possibilities can seem endless.
My favorite way for cooking artichoke is steamed artichoke!
When you first look at an artichoke, it can be hard to imagine how to cook it or eat it.
It looks like some strange fruit or vegetable with leaves tightly closed together and forming a point at the top.
Not only that, but the leaves can be kinda sharp at the ends.
The good news is, I'll show you my favorite way to cook artichokes, which is steaming them and you can see how to eat artichoke here.
Depending on how big of an appetite you and the others who are eating with you, you'll want to plan about one artichoke per person.
Sometimes, my kids will share an artichoke and sometimes they'll eat a whole one themselves.
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How to pick Artichokes
When choosing which artichokes to purchase, you want ones that have the artichoke leaves tightly closed.
The ones I used in these pictures are not the best looking artichokes, but they were the best available at the store. I would normally choose artichokes without the brown spots on them, although these artichokes still tasted good.
🥘 Ingredients
- globe artichoke
- water
- whatever you'd like to dip your artichokes into
🍽 Equipment
- large stockpot
- steamer basket
- tongs
- fork
How to Prepare Artichokes
Prep each artichoke by washing them in cold water.
Then, using a sharp knife, cut off the artichoke stem close to the base of the artichoke.
How to Cook/Steam Artichokes
First, add water into the bottom of your large pot. Add just enough water that when you add your steamer basket into the pot, the water is about the bottom of the steamer basket level.
The reason you want so much water is that you don't want the water to totally evaporate while cooking.
I've done that before and the smell isn't pleasant and the artichokes get a gross, smoky taste.
You'll want the steamer basket to be open on the bottom of your pot.
Add your artichokes to the steamer basket.
You'll find it's easiest to load the basket with two artichokes across from each other first, and then fill in the empty places with the other artichokes. If you have more artichokes than can fit in the basket, I'd suggest cooking in separate batches.
Set your timer for 30 minutes. Now, place the pot on high heat until it's boiling. Once you have boiling water, reduce heat down to a simmer.
When the timer goes off, you'll want to use some tongs to pull one artichoke out and use a fork to stick in the bottom of the artichoke. If it easily goes in and out, then the artichoke is done.
If it doesn't, then cook it for 5 or so more minutes and check again.
Once it's done, remove the cooked artichoke from the pan and enjoy!
You can get step by step artichoke eating direction here, but the gist is you'll pull the outer leaves off and use your teeth to scrape the meat off of each artichoke leaf.
As you take off the leaves, you'll work your way to the artichoke heart, which has so much artichoke flavor and goodness in it.
How Long to Cook or Steam Artichokes?
The exact timing on how long to cook artichokes varies on how large your artichokes are.
I find checking the artichokes around 30 minutes is good. If it's a smaller artichoke, it will be done cooking. Larger artichokes may need 5, 10, or 15 more minutes.
As you cook artichokes more, you'll get a good grasp on how long to cook your artichoke based on the artichoke size.
Best Dipping Sauce for Artichokes
The best dipping sauce for artichokes will totally depend on your taste buds.
Here are a few of our favorites:
- butter - you can use melted butter or softened butter.
- mayonnaise - this is my husband and one of my son's favorite dipping sauces for artichokes.
- garlic butter - super quick and easy to make. Melt a stick of butter (¼ cup) in a saucepan, mince a garlic clove (or two if you like really strong garlic flavor), then mix in the garlic to the butter.
- lemon butter - very similar to prepare as the garlic butter. Melt a stick of butter (¼ cup) in a sauce pan and add how much fresh squeezed lemon you like. About 2 tablespoons is a great starting point and you can add more lemon juice if you find you want it more lemon-y.
Steamed Artichoke Recipe
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How to Cook Artichokes
Ingredients
- 4 artichokes
- mayonnaise butter or some other dipping sauce
Instructions
- Cut off the stem of each artichoke close to the base of the artichoke. Rinse off artichokes. Add about an inch of water to a large pot and insert the steamer basket. You want the water to almost be touching the bottom of the steamer basket.
- Add artichokes to steamer basket. If you have more than four artichokes, you'll want to cook those artichokes in a separate batch.
- Cook artichokes for 30 minutes. Put lid on pot and turn stove on high. Once pot reaches boiling, lower heat to a simmer.
- After 30 minutes, check artichokes for doneness. Use a fork on the bottom of an artichoke. If you can easily insert the fork, the artichoke is done, if it doesn't, set the timer in increments of 5 minutes, checking for doneness after each 5 minutes.
Please note that the nutritional content of this recipe will vary based on the specific ingredients used. For a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values, consider using a recipe nutrition calculator with the exact brands and measurements you've used.
Nutrition
More Delicious Side Dishes
Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Classic Coleslaw
