The Art of Artichokes

“Life is like eating artichokes, you have got to go through so much to get so little” – Thomas Dorgan

As far as artichokes go.… very true

As far as life goes…. that’s a little depressing

I think I’m just going to keep the saying for artichokes! For those who have had them, am I right?! For those who haven’t, get ready for a labor of love.

What is an Artichoke?

A thistle species, artichokes are similar to dandelions or garden thistle growing in your backyard. Basically, a long time ago, someone decided it was a good idea to open this giant thorn layered ball and eat only the base of the leaves. How they decided to do this? I have no idea. Why? For the thrill of eating something new.

Luckily, now-a-days, many artichokes have lost their big thorns and have instead opted for smaller points.

Preparing an Artichoke

There are several ways to prepare artichokes. My two favorites are baking and steaming…. though the easiest is boiling. Whichever way you choose the preparation will be the same!

How to Eat an Artichoke

To eat an artichoke you pull off the inner and outer petals. Using your teeth, scrap off and eat the small amount of meat at each end. You can dip the ends in mayo or melted butter for taste. Once you hit the center, scoop out the hairy center choke. What’s left is the heart,

… pop the whole heart in your mouth!

The Heart of the Matter

You always want the heart. The best part of any artichoke is the soft meat in the center of it. To find it… you have to go through a lot of layers. Are the layers worth it? Well that’s up to you!