Best Simple Steamed Artichokes Recipes

EASY STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Prepare artichokes for steaming: Snap off tough outer leaves. Using a serrated knife, cut off top 1/3 of artichoke. Snip remaining sharp or spiky tips using kitchen shears. Trim stem so artichoke stands upright. Rub cut surfaces with lemon to prevent discoloration. Repeat with remaining artichokes and lemon.
• Set a steamer basket in a large pot; add enough water so it reaches just below the basket. Squeeze lemon juice into water and add 1 tablespoon salt; bring to a boil. Place artichokes in steamer basket, stem-side up. Cover pot, and steam until heart is tender when pierced with a tip of a paring knife, and inner leaves pull out easily, 25 to 35 minutes; add more water to pot, if necessary. Serve warm or at room temperature with Easy Hollandaise or melted butter, if desired.

STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Set a steamer basket over rapidly simmering water with 1/2 lemon, a few parsley stems and 2 smashed garlic cloves in the water. Trim 4 large artichokes, removing the stems. Stand upright in the basket. Cover and steam over medium heat, adding more water as needed, until tender, about 45 minutes. Serve with melted butter for dipping.

STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim and halve 2 artichokes. Season with salt; place cut-side down in a bowl with some lemon wedges and thyme sprigs. Pour in 1/3 cup each white wine and olive oil; cover and microwave 20 minutes. Mix a bit of the cooking liquid with mayonnaise for a dipping sauce.
• Photograph By Antonis Achilleos

SIMPLE STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut stem from artichokes and discard, making sure the bottom of each artichoke is flat. Cut top 1 inch (or so) of the artichoke and discard. Snip the thorny ends from each artichoke leaf with a pair of kitchen scissors.
• Fill the bottom of a pot with a couple of inches of water, adding garlic, lemon juice, and bay leaf to the water. Place a steamer basket in the pot, making sure that the water does not flow over the bottom of the steamer basket.
• Place the artichokes in the basket, resting on the flattened bottoms.
• Bring water to a boil, cover the pot, and cook until the leaves can be easily pulled from the artichoke, 20 to 30 minutes.

SMOKED AND STEAMED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the hot coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only to medium-high heat.
• For the court bouillon: Combine the garlic, dill, 4 cups of water and wine in a large stock pot. Squeeze the lemon juice into the pot, then add the lemon half. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil over direct heat.
• For the artichokes: Cut off the top inch and most of the stem close to the base. Trim the tip of each outer leaf with kitchen shears. Trim the bottoms of the artichokes and prick with a fork or paring knife. Place over indirect heat to take on some smoke while the poaching liquid comes to a boil, about 5 minutes.
• Place the artichokes in the liquid, bottoms up. Cover and simmer until a knife inserted into the bottom of the artichoke gives no resistance, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette: Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the artichokes with the vinaigrette on the side for dipping.
• (Alternatively, you can poach the artichokes over medium-high heat on a stovetop.)

STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Mix 3 cups breadcrumbs, 3 grated garlic cloves, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1 cup each grated parmesan, pecorino, chopped parsley and olive oil in a bowl. Trim 4 large artichokes (see Cook's Note), removing the stems. Separate the leaves; stuff the crumb mixture between each. Stand upright in a steamer basket over simmering water, cover and steam over medium-low heat, adding more water as needed, until tender, about 1 hour, 20 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil and some of the cooking liquid.

STEAMED WHOLE ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Put the parsley, garlic, bay leaves, 3 lemon halves, the wine, olive oil and chicken broth in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, prepare the artichokes: Wash the artichokes under cold water. Using a chef's knife, cut off the stems close to the base. Pull off the lower small tough leaves. Cut off the top inch of the artichoke and rub with the remaining lemon half to preserve the green color. (Alternatively, you may put the artichokes in acidulated water.) If you wish, trim the thorny tips of the leaves with kitchen shears.
• Place the artichokes in the steaming liquid, bottom up. Cover and simmer until a knife inserted into the base meets no resistance, about 30 minutes.
• Serve the steamed artichokes hot or cold with lemon wedges. To eat, pull off a leaf and dip in the melted butter; scrape the meat off the tender end with your front teeth. When you reach the center cone of prickly purple leaves, discard it (this is the choke that protects the heart). Now use a spoon to scrape away the thistle fuzz covering the heart, the meatiest part of the artichoke. Cut the heart into pieces and eat.

STEAMED WHOLE ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Put the parsley, garlic, bay leaves, lemons, wine, oil and broth in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Season the liquid with salt and pepper. In the meantime prepare the artichokes.
• Wash artichokes under cold water. Using a heavy stainless steel knife, cut off the stems close to the base. Pull off the lower petals that are small and tough. Cut off the top inch of the artichoke and rub with half a lemon to preserve the green color. Alternatively, you may put the artichokes in acidulated water. If you wish, trim the thorny tips of the petals with kitchen shears.
• Place the artichokes in the steaming liquid, bottom up. Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. The artichokes are done when a knife is inserted into the base and there is no resistance.
• To eat, pull off a leaf and scrape the meat off the tender end with your front teeth. Dip the ends of the leaves in lemon juice and melted butter if desired. When you reach the center cone of purple prickly leaves, remove it. This is the choke that protects the heart. Now, scrape away the thistle fuzz covering the artichoke heart. The heart is the meatiest part of the artichoke. Steamed artichokes may be served hot or cold.

STEAMED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Cut the top quarter off the artichoke with a serrated knife. Snap off and discard any battered outer leaves. Using scissors, trim the remaining barbed leaf-ends of the artichoke. Cut the stem flush with the artichoke body. Rub the cut surfaces with a lemon half.
• Fit a medium pot large enough to hold the artichoke with a steamer basket. Slice the remaining lemon and use it to line the steamer. Arrange the herb sprigs and garlic over the lemon. Put the artichoke stem-end up in the center of the steamer. Add enough water to come up to the bottom of the steamer. Cover and steam over medium-high heat, adding more water if necessary, until outer leaves can be easily removed from the artichoke and the base can be readily pierced with a knife, about 40 minutes. Serve the artichoke warm with melted butter or oil, or chilled with mayonnaise or oil.
• Serving Suggestion: melted butter, fruity extra-virgin olive, or mayonnaise .

BASIC STEAMED ARTICHOKE

Steps:

• Snap off the stem. With a stainless steel knife, slice off the top, about 1 inch from the pointed end. Use scissors to cut off the tips of the outer leaves. Rub all cut surfaces with lemon juice.
• Bring water to a boil in a pot with a steamer insert. Place the artichoke in the insert and cover the pot tightly. Steam until the base is tender and the leaves pull out easily, about 40 minutes.
• If serving whole, pull out the cone of leaves in the center of the artichoke. Use a small spoon to scoop out the choke. If using the heart only, pull away all of the leaves and then scoop out the choke. You will need approximately 8 large artichokes to get the equivalent of 1 13 3/4-ounce can of artichoke hearts.

ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Fill the pan with just enough water to cover bottom. Bring to a full boil over high heat. While water is heating, trim and discard the stems and tough outer leaves of artichokes. Tuck slivers of butter and slices of garlic into artichoke leaves.
• When water is boiling, place steamer insert in pot and set artichokes in steamer, stem-side down. Cover pot with lid and allow artichokes to steam for approximately 20 minutes, until tender.