How To Fix Artichokes; Prepare, Cook and Eat

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Wondering How To Fix Artichokes

If you’ve always wanted to know how to fix artichokes then you have come to the right place.

I will share how to prepare, cook and eat a fresh artichoke either purchased from the grocery store or grown from your very own garden.

Buying Artichokes

Purchase artichokes at your local grocery store in the fresh produce section, at farmers markets or grow them right in your back yard. Make sure they are green and firm.

Artichokes come in three different sizes: small, medium and large. I prefer to purchase the medium to large sizes.

Typically, artichokes are harvested as a green bud before the petals start to open. It’s at this stage when the heart of the artichoke is fully edible.

Once the artichoke bud has started to open, the heart quickly turns into a furry mess which can’t be eaten. More on that later.

Artichokes in the Garden!

There are two types of artichokes that can be grown in your garden; purple artichokes and the most popular green globe.

I like growing different stuff in my garden. The last time I had these green globe beauties was back in 2017. And you know what? I am ready to plant them again. Only this time I hope I get larger bulbs like the ones seen in the grocery stores.

When growing artichokes they need to be planted in full sun and require a long growing season. I reserved one corner of my garden for growing artichokes.

The artichoke is related to the milk thistle. When the artichoke bulb is left on the stalk it will produce a flower similar to that of the thistle as noted below. Some say the flower is edible but I have never tried it.

The goal when growing artichokes is to harvest them before the flower emerges because the edible plant parts are the immature artichoke flower buds known as the artichoke heart.

Some may say the artichoke flower looks like it’s cousin “the milk thistle”.

The milk thistle is considered a “noxious weed”. Some people pay good money for milk thistle herbal supplement products.

Artichoke herbal supplements are provided in different forms such as capsules, powders, and extracts.

The milk thistle is a supplement thought to promote healthy liver function, aid in digestion, lower the bad cholesterol and many more health benefits.

How To Fix Artichokes

Ingredients:

• 1-2 fresh medium-large artichokes
• 1 lemon (cut in half)
• 4 Tablespoons drawn butter (optional)
• Shallots, Scallions & Leeks Seasoning with mayonnaise, sour cream, and 1-2 Tablespoons milk (optional)

Prepare Artichokes

Rinse artichokes under cool water and pat dry.

The first step in preparing the artichoke is by using a large knife, carefully remove about the top 3 inches from the bulb and cut the lower stem leaving about an inch.

The outer leaves may be prickly and if they are you can use a pair of kitchen shears and cut the tips off.

Cut a lemon in half and rub the top of the artichokes with the lemon to prevent discoloration.

The immature flower of the artichoke can be seen inside once cut. Not always but sometimes and this is okay.

Cook Artichokes

Use a deep stock pot, steamer basket and fill the pot with water just below the steamer basket. Add artichokes with cut tops facing up. Cover pot with lid and cook on high (or rather steam) artichokes for 30 minutes.

Note: Keep an eye on the pot to make sure the water does not run dry.

Steaming artichokes can also be done in an pressure cooker in lesser time. I’m not so savvy with a pressure cooker and prefer to do this on the stove top.

How To Eat Artichokes

Carefully remove artichokes from the steamer pot using long handled tongs and place on a platter or bowl. These can be served individually or shared with several people. Usually, I serve one for my husband and one for myself.

Gently remove a leaf from the steamed artichoke. While holding onto the top part of the leaf place the lower part into your mouth. Clench teeth down and pull out the lower leaf to remove the soft meaty part of the artichoke. Then discard the leaf in a separate bowl and eventually move to a kitchen compost or trash.

When you get to the end of the artichoke (the very bottom); where there are no more leaves to pull you have reached the heart. But Wait!

There will be these hairy looking fibers. DO NOT EAT THEM!

Gently scrape the fibers from the artichoke and under these fibers is the artichoke heart. Dig in! You can probably eat part of the stem too if it isn’t stringy.

Artichoke Heart!

Be sure to serve with drawn butter or a dip.

I like to make a dip using Shallots, Scallions & Leeks Seasoning. I blend the dried herbs with sour cream and mayonnaise and then add about 1-2 Tablespoons of milk to thin it a bit and it’s perfect to dip your artichoke.

Enjoy!

I AM EXCITED YOU ARE VIEWING HOW TO FIX ARTICHOKES; PREPARE, COOK AND EAT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOURS TURNS OUT SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO MAKE IT!

Please come back and let us know in the comments!

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