Steaming Baby Artichokes: A Quick, Easy, And Tasty Guide

Baby artichokes are not a different variety from regular artichokes; they are simply a smaller, fully mature version, picked from the lower part of the plant. They are fun to cook because they can be eaten whole after a little trimming and haven't developed the fuzzy choke in the centre that larger artichokes have. They are also easy to prepare, cook and eat. You can steam, microwave, grill, bake, or sauté baby artichokes, or stuff them, add them to grain bowls, soups, or enjoy them as they are with simple seasoning.

Baby artichokes are a smaller, fully mature version of regular artichokes

Baby artichokes can be cooked whole, and they don't have the fuzzy choke that regular artichokes have, so there's no need to remove it. However, you can still trim them to avoid the tough outer leaves. To do this, cut off about an inch from the top of the artichoke and rub the cut leaves with lemon to prevent browning. You can also remove the outer petals until you reach the inner pale, yellow-green petals.

To steam baby artichokes, place them in a steam basket and fill the steamer with water. Bring the water to a boil, add the steam basket, cover with a lid, and steam over medium heat for 20 minutes, or until tender. You can also add aromatics like garlic, lemon, or bay leaf to the steaming water for extra flavor.

Once steamed, you can enjoy the baby artichokes whole, or cut them into quarters or slices to use in your favorite recipes. They can be a great addition to grain bowls or soups, or you can simply season and enjoy them as is.

They can be eaten whole, unlike regular artichokes

Baby artichokes are a fully mature version of the traditional artichoke, just picked from the lower part of the plant. They are smaller in size and therefore easier to prepare, cook and eat. They are also fun to eat because, unlike regular artichokes, you can eat the whole thing, including the stem.

Baby artichokes don't have the fuzzy choke that regular artichokes have in their centres, so there's no need to remove it. This makes them less fiddly to eat than regular artichokes, which require you to scrape off the tender parts with your teeth.

To prepare baby artichokes for steaming, start by rinsing them under cold water. Then, cut off about an inch from the tops and remove the dark green stem. You can also remove the outer petals until you reach the inner pale, yellow-green petals. Soaking the artichokes in lemon or vinegar water will prevent browning before cooking.

Once you've prepared your artichokes, place them in a steam basket. Fill a pot with water up to the bottom of the steam basket, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil. Then, add the steam basket to the pot and steam the artichokes on medium heat for around 20 minutes, or until tender.

Once cooked, you can enjoy eating baby artichokes whole, or cut them into quarters or slices to use in your favourite recipes.

Steam baby artichokes for 20 minutes or until tender

Steaming baby artichokes is a simple and fuss-free way to cook them. Baby artichokes are just a smaller and fully mature version of the traditional artichoke, picked from the lower part of the plant. They are fun to cook because they don't need much trimming, and you can eat the whole thing.

To steam baby artichokes, first, place your rinsed and trimmed artichokes in a steam basket. You can trim the artichokes by removing the tough outer leaves and peeling or removing the dark green stem. Remove the outer petals until you reach the inner pale, yellow-green petals. You can soak the artichokes in lemon or vinegar water to prevent browning until you are ready to cook them.

Next, fill a steamer with water and bring it to a boil. Add the steam basket to the steamer pot, cover with a lid, and place over medium heat.

Finally, steam the baby artichokes for 20 minutes or until they are tender. You can check if they are tender by piercing them with a fork. Once they are tender, remove them from the steamer and let them cool.

You can enjoy eating the entire tender baby artichoke, or cut them into quarters or slices to use in your favourite recipes.

To prepare, wash and trim the artichokes, then rub with lemon to prevent browning

Preparing baby artichokes for steaming is a simple and straightforward process. To start, wash the artichokes under cold running water. You can use your hands or a vegetable brush to gently rub and clean the outer leaves and stem. This ensures that any dirt or residue is removed before cooking.

Once they're washed, it's time to trim the artichokes. Using a sharp knife or kitchen scissors, cut off about 1 inch from the top of each artichoke. This step helps remove the tough, pointy tips of the leaves, making the artichokes easier to handle and eat.

After trimming the tops, you'll want to remove any small, tough petals or leaves from the stem. These outer petals can be darker in colour and are usually more fibrous. Peel them away until you reach the inner, pale yellow-green petals, which are tender and edible.

Now, to prevent browning, it's crucial to rub the cut surfaces of the artichokes with lemon. Artichokes tend to brown quickly once cut, so rubbing lemon juice on the exposed areas will help slow down this oxidation process. You can use a quartered lemon and squeeze the juice directly onto the cut surfaces, or you can simply rub the cut side of a lemon wedge over them.

As an optional step, you can also soak the trimmed artichokes in lemon or vinegar water for a few minutes. This adds an extra layer of protection against browning and can be especially useful if you're not cooking the artichokes immediately.

By following these steps, you'll have perfectly prepared baby artichokes ready for steaming. Remember, baby artichokes are fully mature artichokes that are simply smaller in size, so they require minimal preparation before cooking.

Baby artichokes can be enjoyed as is or added to grain bowls and soups

Baby artichokes are a fun, tasty treat that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. They are simply a smaller version of a regular artichoke, picked from the lower part of the plant. They are easy to prepare, cook and eat because they haven't developed the fuzzy choke in the centre that larger artichokes have.

Baby artichokes can be steamed, microwaved, grilled, baked, or sautéed. To steam them, first, wash the artichokes under cold water. Then, cut off the tops and peel or remove the dark green stem. You can also remove the outer petals until you reach the inner pale, yellow-green petals. Soak the artichokes in lemon or vinegar water to prevent browning until you are ready to cook. If you want to speed up the cooking time, you can also half or quarter the artichokes.

Place the prepared artichokes in a steam basket. Fill a pot with water up to the bottom of the steam basket, add a slice of lemon for extra flavour, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil. Then, add the steam basket to the pot, and steam the artichokes on medium heat for 20 minutes, or until tender.

Once cooked, baby artichokes can be enjoyed as they are, with a simple seasoning, or added to grain bowls and soups. They can also be cut into slices or quarters and used in your favourite recipes.

Frequently asked questions