How to Cook Artichokes

Braising artichokes in a broth of lemon and garlic works whether you want to trim the artichokes so people can eat them with a knife and fork or have everyone pull off their own leaves.

Sliced, trimmed baby artichokes cooked simply in olive oil become golden, crisp delights. Serve them on their own as a nibble before dinner or as part of an antipasto plate.

Steaming artichokes in the microwave is much quicker than doing it on the stove-top, obviously. The slightly drier nature of the method, however, requires using the very freshest of chokes to avoid a tough texture.

In order to sautée artichokes, you will need to trim them first. If you've never trimmed or cleaned baby artichokes before, see this easy-to-follow guide.

Steaming brings out the nutty flavor and light sweetness buried deep in each artichoke thistle. Serve steamed artichokes warm, at room temperature, or chilled with one of these delicious dips.