Steamed Artichokes

Steaming artichokes is a really simple and delicious way to eat them. I call them the strip-tease vegetable! Why? Because you have to pull away all the outer leaves to get to its succulent... heart, eating the tender leaf bottoms as you go. Artichokes are a member of the thistle family and what we eat is the bud. The hairy choke that covers the heart is the unformed flower.

Pick medium to large artichokes with a soft green color and firm, tight, unblemished leaves. Pass on any with loose, bruised, dry looking outer leaves. They won’t be as good. A tangy mustard vinaigrette is the perfect accompaniment to an artichoke’s green, earthy taste.
Watch the video to learn how to make it.