Artichokes
Though artichokes are commonly thought of as vegetables, the part of the artichoke that you eat is actually the bud of a flower before it blooms. After blooming, the artichoke becomes a single, purple blossom, but most are harvested for food before they get to that point.
The artichokes you find at grocery stores or farmers markets are round and covered with spiky leaves. When steamed, artichokes have a tender texture and a sweet, earthy taste that make them an excellent addition to dips and sauces, as well as a perfect stand-alone snack.
Preparing fresh artichoke can feel intimidating if you've never done it before, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it. Rinse the artichoke and then cut off the stem. Open the petals up a little bit, and then steam the artichoke for 30 to 40 minutes.
Once your artichoke has been steamed, you have a few different options for eating it. Some people choose to peel away the petals of the artichoke and only eat the center, or "heart.” However, some of the best nutrients are concentrated in the leaves. To get the full health benefits, you can pull the leaves off the artichoke and scrape off the meaty part with your teeth.
You can find recipes online for different ways to season your artichoke leaves to make them even more delicious. Artichoke and artichoke heart can also be purchased canned or jarred to be used as an ingredient in dips, pasta, or stir-fry.
The artichokes you find at grocery stores or farmers markets are round and covered with spiky leaves. When steamed, artichokes have a tender texture and a sweet, earthy taste that make them an excellent addition to dips and sauces, as well as a perfect stand-alone snack.
Preparing fresh artichoke can feel intimidating if you've never done it before, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it. Rinse the artichoke and then cut off the stem. Open the petals up a little bit, and then steam the artichoke for 30 to 40 minutes.
Once your artichoke has been steamed, you have a few different options for eating it. Some people choose to peel away the petals of the artichoke and only eat the center, or "heart.” However, some of the best nutrients are concentrated in the leaves. To get the full health benefits, you can pull the leaves off the artichoke and scrape off the meaty part with your teeth.
You can find recipes online for different ways to season your artichoke leaves to make them even more delicious. Artichoke and artichoke heart can also be purchased canned or jarred to be used as an ingredient in dips, pasta, or stir-fry.