Artichokes - Scary but Easy!
What do you think of when you picture a thistle? something kinda purple, spikey, the national flower of Scotland... Dinner? not usually. But that's what you're eating when you eat an artichoke - a giant thistle. And they're delicious!
Despite being scary to look at and even contemplate cooking, artichokes are actually relatively simple to prepare and enjoy - well worth adding to any veggie lovers' repertoire.
I usually steam my artichokes, though friends of mine boil them (covered rolling boil). Cut off the woody stems close to the base of the thistle part, and place them in the pot. Either way, cook them for a good hour. When you can easily pull off an inner leaf, they're done. Pull out and let cool briefly.
Dipping sauces: this is really what the artichoke eating experience is all about! Try experimenting with making your own dipping sauces, but here are a few of the ones i like:
Mayonnaise with balsamic vinegar - yeah, i know it sounds gross but i promise it tastes great! mix a tsp or two of vinegar with two big spoonfuls of mayonnaise until smooth.
Mayonnaise and butter - melt a half stick of butter and mix with an equal volume of mayo.
To eat the 'choke, pull off a leaf. Dip the bottom of the leaf in your dip of choice, then place in your mouth and pull out, using your teeth to scrape the yummy flesh off the bottom of the leaf. (This kind of goes without saying, but watch out for the thorns on the tips of the leaves!)
When you're all done with the leaves, you've gotten to the best part - the heart! Pull off the little leaves remaining in the center of the 'choke. You should see a hairy layer of small bristles. Using a spoon or knife, scrape these off to reveal the flesh underneath. Cut the heart into pieces, dip, and eat!
See? not so scary after all :)
Note: canned artichoke hearts are available in supermarkets, but these have been pickled, so they won't taste at all like fresh cooked ones.
Despite being scary to look at and even contemplate cooking, artichokes are actually relatively simple to prepare and enjoy - well worth adding to any veggie lovers' repertoire.
I usually steam my artichokes, though friends of mine boil them (covered rolling boil). Cut off the woody stems close to the base of the thistle part, and place them in the pot. Either way, cook them for a good hour. When you can easily pull off an inner leaf, they're done. Pull out and let cool briefly.
Dipping sauces: this is really what the artichoke eating experience is all about! Try experimenting with making your own dipping sauces, but here are a few of the ones i like:
Mayonnaise with balsamic vinegar - yeah, i know it sounds gross but i promise it tastes great! mix a tsp or two of vinegar with two big spoonfuls of mayonnaise until smooth.
Mayonnaise and butter - melt a half stick of butter and mix with an equal volume of mayo.
To eat the 'choke, pull off a leaf. Dip the bottom of the leaf in your dip of choice, then place in your mouth and pull out, using your teeth to scrape the yummy flesh off the bottom of the leaf. (This kind of goes without saying, but watch out for the thorns on the tips of the leaves!)
When you're all done with the leaves, you've gotten to the best part - the heart! Pull off the little leaves remaining in the center of the 'choke. You should see a hairy layer of small bristles. Using a spoon or knife, scrape these off to reveal the flesh underneath. Cut the heart into pieces, dip, and eat!
See? not so scary after all :)
Note: canned artichoke hearts are available in supermarkets, but these have been pickled, so they won't taste at all like fresh cooked ones.