How to clean artichokes – tutorial
I have a kind of addiction for artichokes. I could have a meal with just artichokes, rustic bread dipped in olive oil whilst sipping a good Pinot Grigio to enhance the deep and gorgeous flavour of the artichokes.
A month ago whilst in Italy it was a joy to see that many vegetable market stalls in my local town were filled with artichokes of all size and shapes. Some were so full that artichokes would just roll onto the street.. ABUNDANCE. I love that.
Artichokes are often sold in a jar preserved in oil, it is not quite the same but they can be handy to add in rice salads, as pizza topping or just to add to green salads. It is convenient and cheaper if they are not grown locally and during the winter months I use them too. Fresh artichokes taste different though and it is worth trying them even if just once as a treat.
Before sharing my artichoke tart recipe in my next post I thought a tutorial on how to clean them would be useful.
It is straightforward, just make sure you wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands from turning black. Once you have cleaned the artichokes dip them in a bowl with water and lemon juice to avoid oxidation.
Ingredients
- artichokes
- lemon - 1
- water - a bowl
- sharp knife
Instructions
Fill a bowl with water and squeeze one lemon into it, you will need it for your cleaned artichokes. With a knife cut off the tip of the artichoke (about 2-3 cm)
Remove some of the outer leaves as they are the tough ones
Cut off the final part of the stem
From the remaining part of the stem slice off any spines and then with a paring knife remove the fibrous outer layer so you will get a stem that is very tender and flavorful.
Now open up the inner leaves
With a melon baller or with a spoon remove the "beard" of the artichoke which is inedible
Dip the cleaned artichoke into lemony water until it is time to cook it.
If you want to use your artichokes in salads, pasta dishes, risottos etc. you can cut them in half instead of leaving them whole.
In this case cut the artichoke in half and remove the beard with a small knife, cutting along the bottom of the artichoke.
Then cut it into quarters
To cook your artichokes you just need to boil them with lightly salted hot water for 10 minutes then drain. You can use them in many pasta dishes, omelettes, risottos, quiches, or in casseroles or add them to salad for extra flavour.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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This is an amazing tutorial
Alida love it:)
Thank you Gloria!
Dear Alida, You cut your artichoke just like I do. My grandmother taught me years ago. It is so funny I could never understand that when you clean it it comes to this small piece. But this piece is amazing. Love them like you in any way, shape, or form as they say. I also use the gloves, for not only the artichoke, but I use the gloves for eggplant as well. They are so pretty even cut in this small tasty piece, love the color of the purple. Thanks for sharing this, it brings back many happy memories of my childhood. Blessings on a great week…Dottie 🙂
Thank you Dottie. It is the best when we can pick up skills from our mothers and grandmothers. And we are left with loving memories not just skills XX
Mangerei carciofi ogni giorno anch’io! La settimana scorsa ho comprato dei carciofini piccoli da mettere nei barattoli sott’olio, a casa mia vanno a ruba! Ottima idea mettersi i guanti per pulirli, infatti l’unico inconveniente è che le mani diventano nere! Complimenti per la spiegazione accurata per come pulirli! Un abbraccio!
Grazie cara Molly. Sono sicura che avrei molto da imparare da te sui carciofi anche perche’ crescono molto meglio al sud che al nord. Ho diverse amiche del sud qui in Inghilterra e ho imparato un sacco da loro. Sono bravissime a fare i carciofi in mille modi! Che ortaggio delizioso e versatile!
So do I 🙂
I never know how to deal with fresh artichokes. Terrible me always getting the tin one from the supermarkets. Thanks for the tutorial, Alida.
yeah…..I really needed this…and for sure I will come back to it….because….ummmmm…never learned how to clean those guys! Gosh…..they look like roses!
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Grazie Alida per il tutorial!