Kitchen > Vegetables > How to Cook Artichokes

Artichokes: Cooking Lesson

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How to Cook Artichokes

LivingAfterWLS Food & Nutrition Director Barbara Gibbons (right) teaches Lynn Pistacchio, Hospitality Director, how to properly prepare and cook an artichoke.

You will find many instructions for cooking this amazing vegetable. A lot of people are intimidated by it because it just LOOKS difficult. From stuffing them with various vegetables or seafood to rich and creamy sauces, there are endless recipes. Being born and raised in California, I have loved artichokes all my life. I still believe that my grandmother's simple preparation is the best way. So, when I had the opportunity to gather some large and beautiful artichokes in Park City, I couldn't resist. Lynn wanted to know how to cook them so I showed her, step by step my granny's time honored simple recipe:

Trim the stems to less than 1".

Peel down the sides with a sharp paring knife to get to the tender middle of the stem.

Trim off the bottom row of leaves with your knife.

Let your assistant know what a great job they are doing.

Fill a large pot with water and heat it to boiling. Add to the water one lemon, cut in half and partially squeezed in the water. Once boiling, turn down the heat to a simmer, add the chokes and cover. Cook about 25 minutes for large chokes. Remove from the pot, drain and enjoy!

Nothing difficult about this recipe and there is no need to season them. The lemon will keep the vegetable from losing it's color or turning brown. The traditional way to serve them is to dip the single leaves in mayonnaise, place it in your mouth about halfway, close your teeth over it and pull the meaty pulp off into your mouth. Don't forget the best part which is the heart. Once all the leaves are removed, you will see spiney fibrous whisps in the center. Take a spoon and scrape all those bits out. Remove them all because trying to eat one WILL choke you. Cut up the heart, which is soft and tender and eat with the desired condiment! I love the hearts in chicken recipes and salads.

I hope you will try them if you haven't had one before. They are a real treat!

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