How to Cook Artichokes and Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce

How to Cook Artichokes, How to Buy Artichokes, How to EAT Artichokes. Everything You Need to Know about Artichokes along with a delicious Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce recipe!

There is absolutely nothing intuitive about Artichokes; how to pick them, cook them and certainly not how to eat them.

I was fortunate to grow up with Grandparents in Northern California where we’d drive through artichoke country often.

I spent years driving by the prehistoric looking spikey plants with one choke spouting above the plant.

And fortunately was taught young how to tackle an artichoke, as well as the delicious end result when they are well prepared.

Once the puzzle of how to cook artichokes and how to eat them is solved, they may become your new favorite spring vegetable!

What is an Artichoke?

There is no clue when looking at an artichoke that it should be eaten!

Artichokes are a large member of the thistle family. They are considered a vegetable.

What Part of the Artichoke Can be Eaten?

When cooked, the underside of the leaves reveals soft flesh that is delicious.

The favorite part however is buried deep inside the outer leaves: the artichoke heart.

They are sold in marinated in jars.

However, when you eat a fresh artichoke, the heart is the reward for all your efforts with a lightly sweet flavor and creamy texture.

When are Artichokes in Season?

We are currently in artichoke season which lasts primarily from March until June. A second smaller crop is grown for a fall harvest as well.

Where to Find Artichokes?

If artichokes are not local to you, check stores with more extensive produce departments (Whole Foods for instance). Farmer’s Market’s may sell them too.

How to Select ARTICHOKES

When purchasing artichokes select artichokes with leaves that are tightly closed, forming a bit of a baseball looking appearance (for larger artichokes; smaller varieties will appear more oblong).

You’ll note those in my photos look a bit scarred. I’m not concerned with that as it could be from a frost or other natural circumstances.

They are tight and looked very healthy once I began to trim them.

How to TRIM ARTICHOKES

Being a thistle artichokes have natural protective aspects like a thorn on the end of each leaf.

To prepare artichokes for cooking:

1. Cut the stem flush with the bottom of the artichoke
2. Remove the small leaves by the stem 
3. Make a straight cut below the thorn on the leaf tip and cut off any split in the leaves
4. Cut the leaves uniformly for visual appeal
5. Cut off the top ½-inch of the artichoke making a straight cut, leaving the leaves available for pulling and eating once they are cooked

How to COOK ARTICHOKES

Artichokes are typically steamed or boiled. Either method takes about the same amount of time; 25-30 minutes.

MY PREFERRED COOKING METHOD: I use an in between method of putting the artichokes in about 2-3 inches of liquid (I mix white wine and water with some sliced garlic cloves for flavor).

How To Check Artichokes Are Cooked

Check for doneness by pulling on the lower outer leaves; if they can be removed easily the artichoke is done. If not add a bit more cooking time.

How to EAT AN ARTICHOKE

I cannot think of any other food that requires such an unconventional consumption method as does an artichoke!

How to Eat Artichoke Leaves

When the artichoke is cool enough to handle, pull off the leaves and scrape them along your teeth to remove the softened ‘meat’ of the inner leaf.

The Outer Leaves – Scrape them on Your Teeth

I think the artichoke is the only vegetable eaten this way. Once you figure it out, it’s like being in a secret club!

• Hold the end of the leaf where the thorn was removed,
• Place the leaf between your teeth and
• Gently bite down close to the thorn end, or where you sense the inside of the leaf has softened.
• As you bite down, pull the leaf out of your mouth leaving the soft artichoke flesh to swallow.

A Pro Tip: If you bite too hard you will not be able to pull the leaf out, scraping the artichoke into your mouth.

The outer leaves of the artichoke are tougher than those toward the center.

You’ll note the leaves look aggressively eaten. Normally the inside of the artichoke leaf is soft and yielding, releasing the sweet meat of the artichoke readily.

The Inner Leaves 

The leaves become softer toward the center of the artichoke. They leaves become soft enough that they can be eaten with no scraping.

The leaves in the very center are paper thin. Remove the paper thin leaves to get to the heart.

The ‘choke’ of the artichoke

The Choke and the Heart

As if this could be any stranger to eat, once you have eaten or removed all the leaves you will arrive here: the choke.

Beneath the soft fuzzy choke is the most delicious part of the artichoke: the heart.

How to Prepare the Artichoke Heart

Run a sharp knife underneath the fuzzy choke (just underneath it so as to not remove any of the heart) in a circular pattern to remove it.

Underneath will be the heart; the sweetest part of the artichoke.

It has a fantastic thick, dense almost custard-like consistency.

Slice it up and enjoy it; it’s worth the work of getting there.

The coveted ‘heart’ of the artichoke

Sauces for Dipping Artichokes

Artichokes are often are paired with flavors of lemon and butter for dipping.

Artichokes have a subtle but distinct flavor that is even better with some fat. 

An aioli, mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce or just plain melted butter are delicious options.

Dip the leaves prior to scraping for a delicious bite.

Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce

This easy Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce for artichokes is a perfect choice!

More Artichoke Recipes You’ll Love:

• Baby Grilled Artichokes with Chipotle-Mayo Dipping Sauce
• Creamy Hot Artichoke Dip with Garlic Toast Rounds
• Scalloped Ginger Sunchokes

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How to Cook Artichokes and Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce

Cooking artichokes is very easy and only takes around 30 minutes.  Tarragon-chive dipping sauce is made with fresh herbs, beautifully complimenting the subtle flavor of this spring vegetable.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword how to cook an artichoke, tarragon dipping sauce

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 4 Dipping Sauce recipe yeild for 2 servings; can be doubled or tripled

Calories 244 kcal

Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

Ingredients for cooking Artichokes:

• Artichokes , trimmed* (any number you wish to cool)
• 1 cup White Wine
• 1 cloves Garlic , peeled and cut into 1/8-inch lengthwise slices

Ingredients for Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce:

• ½ cup Mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Tarragon leaves , finely diced
• 2 teaspoons Chives , finely diced
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

Instructions

Instructions for cooking Artichokes:

1. In a large pot (large enough to fit all artichokes you are preparing sitting flat on the bottom next to each other) pour in wine and fill with water to 2-3 inches deep.
2. Add garlic cloves.
3. Bring to a boil reduce to medium heat (still a low boil or high simmer), cover and cook 25-30 minutes or until the lower leaves pull off with ease. Drain and allow artichokes to sit a few minutes before serving.

Instructions for Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce:

1. Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until fully combine (will turn a light green color). Refrigerate until using.

Recipe Notes

*refer to main blog post for trimming instructions.

Nutrition Facts

How to Cook Artichokes and Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 244 Calories from Fat 189

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 21g 32%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 11mg 4%

Sodium 181mg 8%

Potassium 72mg 2%

Total Carbohydrates 2g 1%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 1g

Protein 0g 0%

Vitamin A 1.6%

Vitamin C 1.8%

Calcium 1.7%

Iron 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Originally published: April 19, 2013