Steaming Artichokes: Quick, Easy Pressure Cooker Method

Artichokes are a delicious treat, but they can be a pain to prepare. Cooking them in a pressure cooker is a great way to save time and effort. Here's a step-by-step guide to steaming artichokes in a pressure cooker, so you can enjoy this tasty vegetable more often!

How to choose a great artichoke

Choosing a great artichoke is the first step to making a delicious meal. Here are some tips to help you select the best artichokes for your next feast:

Colour and Leaves

Look for artichokes with bright, vibrant colours. A small amount of brown colouring is acceptable, but if the leaves are splayed, the artichoke is likely older and less fresh. Choose artichokes with tightly packed leaves; the tighter the petals, the fresher the artichoke. Avoid artichokes with dry or cracked leaves, as these are signs of age. Frost-kissed leaves are fine and often indicate a sweeter, more tender artichoke.

Weight

A good artichoke should feel heavy for its size. If it feels deceptively light, it may be dry and not very meaty.

Sound

A fresh artichoke's leaves should squeak when gently squeezed.

Size

Artichoke size depends on your preference. Smaller artichokes are more tender and sweeter, while larger artichokes have bigger hearts. Baby artichokes are also an option; they are not only adorable but also sweet, tender, and easier to prepare.

Stem

Look for artichokes with stems, as the interior is almost as tasty as the artichoke heart. About 1-2 inches of stem is ideal.

Season

Artichokes are in season from March to June, so you are more likely to find fresh artichokes during this period.

How to prep artichokes

Artichokes are a great, healthy treat, but they can be a little intimidating to prepare. Here's a step-by-step guide to getting them ready for cooking.

First, choose your artichokes. Look for artichokes that are brightly coloured, with tightly packed leaves. A small amount of brown is okay, but if the leaves are splayed, the artichoke is likely older and less fresh. They should feel heavy for their size, and their leaves should squeak when squeezed. Frost-kissed leaves are fine and can indicate a sweeter, more tender artichoke.

Once you've chosen your artichokes, it's time to start prepping. Remove any small leaves towards the bottom of the stem – these should pull off easily by hand. Then, use a sharp kitchen knife or a serrated knife to slice the top inch or so off the tops of each artichoke. You can also use scissors to trim the sharp tips off each outer leaf. Cut the base of the stem so that the artichokes rest flat, bloom side up. Optionally, you can rub the tops of the artichokes with lemon wedges to help maintain their colour.

Now your artichokes are ready to cook! Place them in your pressure cooker with a rack or steamer insert so that they sit above the water. Add water and cook on high pressure for 10-25 minutes, depending on the size of your artichokes. When the cooking time is complete, release the pressure and serve warm with your choice of dipping sauce.

To eat, remove the outer leaves, dip them in sauce, and use your teeth to scrape the meaty ends off. Once you've removed all the large outer leaves, you'll be left with the heart and the fuzzy choke. Do not eat any part of the choke – use a spoon or knife to scrape it out completely and discard it. The remaining meat, or heart, is delicious and can be enjoyed with your chosen sauce.

How to cook artichokes

Artichokes are a delicious treat, but they can be a little intimidating to prepare. Luckily, a pressure cooker can make the process faster and easier. Here's a step-by-step guide to cooking artichokes in a pressure cooker.

Choosing and Preparing Artichokes

First, you'll want to select fresh artichokes. Look for artichokes with tightly packed leaves, which are a sign of freshness. The artichokes should feel heavy for their size and have a bright colour. You can also look for frost-kissed leaves, which indicate that the artichokes are sweeter and more tender.

Once you've chosen your artichokes, it's time to prepare them for cooking. Start by removing any small leaves towards the bottom of the stem. You can simply pull these off by hand. Then, use a sharp kitchen knife or a serrated knife to slice off the top inch or so of each artichoke. You can also use scissors to trim the sharp tips off each outer leaf. Finally, cut the base of the stem so that the artichokes can rest flat, bloom side up. Optionally, you can rub the tops of the artichokes with lemon wedges to help maintain their colour.

Cooking the Artichokes

Place a rack or steamer insert into your pressure cooker, and add water. The amount of water you need will depend on the size of your cooker; refer to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the artichokes on the rack or steamer, and they can be placed stem-side up or down. You can add lemon wedges to the cooker if desired.

Close the lid of your pressure cooker and set it to cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. When the cooking time is complete, release the pressure quickly.

Serving and Eating Artichokes

Artichokes can be served warm or chilled and make a great first course, light main course, or side dish. They go well with a simple dipping sauce, such as melted butter with garlic, mayonnaise with garlic, or lemon dill cream sauce.

To eat an artichoke, start by removing the outer leaves and dipping them in your chosen sauce. Use your teeth to scrape the meaty ends off the leaves. Once you've removed all the large outer leaves, you'll be left with smaller, tender leaves and the artichoke heart. The heart is the delicious, meaty centre of the artichoke. However, be careful not to eat the fuzzy choke, which is inedible and should be scraped out with a spoon or knife.

Adjusting Cooking Time

The cooking time for artichokes will depend on their size. For average-sized artichokes (about the size of your hand), 15 minutes in the pressure cooker should be perfect. For larger artichokes, you may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes. For smaller artichokes, reduce the cooking time to around 10-12 minutes.

How to eat artichokes

Artichokes are a delicious and healthy treat, but they can be a little tricky to prepare. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to eat them:

Preparing the Artichokes:

• Start by washing your artichokes and removing any damaged outer leaves.
• Use a sharp knife to trim the stems, leaving about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch intact.
• Cut off the top third of each artichoke to expose the inside, which will allow steam to penetrate.
• You can also use kitchen scissors to snip the sharp tips off the outer leaves, but this is mostly for aesthetics as they will soften after cooking.
• Rub lemon juice or wedges on the cut edges to prevent browning (optional).

Cooking the Artichokes:

• Place a trivet or steamer basket inside your pressure cooker and add water (about 1 cup for a 6-quart cooker, 1.5 cups for an 8-quart cooker).
• You can also add aromatics like garlic, bay leaves, lemon slices, or rosemary to the water for extra flavor.
• Put the artichokes on the trivet, stem side up or down (either works).
• Close the lid and cook at high pressure for 10-25 minutes, depending on the size of your artichokes.
• For small artichokes, cook for 10 minutes, for medium artichokes, cook for 15 minutes, and for large artichokes, cook for 20-25 minutes.
• When the cooking cycle is complete, do a quick release of the pressure.

Eating the Artichokes:

• Artichokes can be served hot or cold.
• To eat, start by pulling off an outer leaf.
• Dip the base of the leaf into your favorite sauce, such as melted butter, garlic butter, mayonnaise, or a tangy dip.
• Pull the leaf through your teeth, using your bottom teeth to scrape off the soft, pulpy flesh.
• Discard the remaining part of the leaf.
• Continue until you reach the heart, the most tender and delicious part.
• Use a fork to eat the heart, or scrape out the fuzzy choke (the inedible part) and slice the heart to dip and savor.

What to serve with artichokes

Artichokes are a delicious and nutritious vegetable with a unique, earthy flavour and a tender heart. They are a versatile veggie and can be enjoyed in various ways, such as steamed, grilled, or roasted. Here are some ideas for what to serve with artichokes:

As a Starter or Light Main

Artichokes can be served as a starter or light main with a simple sauce for dipping. Some sauce ideas include:

• Melted butter with garlic
• Mayo with garlic, blended into an aioli
• Mayo with rice wine vinegar and black sesame seeds
• Lemon dill cream sauce
• Lemon herb tartar sauce
• Avocado chimichurri sauce
• Hollandaise sauce
• Chilled aioli, mayonnaise or Dijon mustard
• Green goddess dressing
• Chimichurri

As a Side Dish

Artichokes also work well as a side dish. Here are some ideas for what to serve them with:

• Steak
• Fish
• Chicken
• Lamb
• Pork
• Shrimp
• Pasta
• Couscous
• Rice
• Salad
• Asparagus
• Roasted vegetables (e.g. carrots, bell peppers, zucchini)
• Bread

Frequently asked questions