How to Cook Artichokes and Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce

Ever look at artichokes at the grocery store and walk on by having no idea what to do with them? This post will show you how to buy, trim and how to cook 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. Being a large member of the thistle family it’s a wonder in the culinary history of mankind that their off-putting exterior was ever penetrated to discover the soft, delicious meat of the underside of their scrappy-looking leaves.

When I was growing up my maternal Grandparents lived in Northern California. They had a flat in San Francisco where my Grandfather worked during the week, and a weekend home on the Monterey Peninsula. I loved to visit them for vacation.

We’d spend a great time in San Francisco then wind our way inland down to the Monterey Peninsula, leaving civilization behind to transition through the brown rolling hills landing in Castroville en route to the ocean.

Waiting patiently after clearing the wooded hills were acres and acres of artichoke fields. I found them so curious; spiky, voluminous vegetation, presenting one thorny choke thrust high on the top of the plant as if presenting a prehistoric offering.

I now feel fortunate to have grown up with artichokes, eating them since before I can remember. I went to college in Santa Cruz California and along with many other out-of-staters was exposed to local California food.

I witnessed some extremely awkward moments of self conscious Collegiates trying to eat artichokes whole, not wanting to out themselves by asking what the heck to do with one. There is no other food consumed like an artichoke.

ARTICHOKE SEASON: We are currently in artichoke season which lasts primarily from March until May. You’ll see them popping up at markets and it seemed a great time for a little tutorial, as well as to share a favorite dipping sauce of mine; Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce. Simple, made with fresh herbs, it is the perfect dipping partner to the elusive artichoke.

Tips for How to Select ARTICHOKES

When purchasing artichokes try to select artichokes whose leaves are fairly 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 they have natural protective aspects like a thorn on the end of each leaf.

To prepare artichokes for cooking the stem needs to be cut flush with the bottom of the artichoke. The small useless leaves by the stem should also removed.

A straight cut below the thorn and any split in the leaves should be made, attempting to cut the leaves uniformly for visual appeal. Lastly the top ½ inch of the artichokes should at cut off, straight, 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!

Once the artichoke is cool enough to handle, the leaves are pulled off and scraped along the teeth to remove the softened ‘meat’ of the inner leaf. Holding 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.

A Word of Caution: If you bite too hard you will not be able to pull the leaf out, scraping the artichoke into your mouth. As you bite down pull the leaf out of your mouth leaving the lovely artichoke to swallow.

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 celebrated with some fat in an aioli, mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce or just plain melted butter. The leaf can be dipped prior to scraping for a delicious bite.

The outer leaves of the artichoke are tougher than those toward the center and in the variety I purchased for this post they were very tough even with some extra cooking (they were very large too).

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.

As you move inward on the artichoke the leaves become so soft they can be eaten with no scraping. As you near the very center generally the leaves which are paper thin, are merely removed to get to the heart.

The ‘choke’ of the artichoke.

ARTICHOKE PARTS: 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.

One does not need to wonder more than momentarily about the Darwinian purpose of the choke. Fortunately this fuzzy distraction only need be removed to reveal the most coveted aspect to an 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.

Artichokes are one of those strange vegetables shoppers often glance at and pass by due to not knowing how to approach them. Once you’ve made them there is no turning back. After learning how to cook artichokes you’ll want to do it all spring long!

The idiosyncratic manner of eating artichokes always sets a relaxed, fun and unique tone to a meal. And they are a wonderful signature of spring.

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How to Cook Artichokes and Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce

Cooking artichokes is very simple and only takes around 30 minutes. They are sure to enliven any meal, requiring such a relaxed, unique manner by which to eat them. 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.

A few other Artichoke recipes you may enjoy {all recipes are Gluten-Free}:

Baby Grilled Artichokes with Chipotle-Mayo Dipping Sauce

Creamy Hot Artichoke Dip with Garlic Toast Rounds

Scalloped Ginger Sunchokes