Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Ah artichokes!  I love them and thankfully so does my entire family.  If I see fresh artichokes in the grocery store I immediately buy a few.  They have a short season of March to May with normally a bumper crop in October.  Well…its October!!!  

I was at Costco (one of my favorite places on earth) and they had a bag of 4 artichokes that looked beautiful so of course I bought them. Side note, be sure and buy the ones that are green, firm and heavy.  They need to look fresh, not brown on the tips and starting to flower out.  
Once you get home with your fresh artichokes try and cook them within a couple days.  Store them in the fridge until you are ready to use.  When that time comes, snip off the thorns on the tips of the leaves with kitchen shears and cut off the end of the stem, but not all of it-it is edible.  
This vegetable looks daunting, but it is one of the easiest side dishes or appetizers to make.  And, they are fun to eat with kids.  I remember when I was a kid and my mom would make artichokes I would devour the leaves, but I would not touch the HEART. Oh my gosh that sounded gross!  But, once I got past my fear and I tried the “heart” I was in love. So delicious!  
Go get an artichoke!!!

 

Print

Grilled Artichokes

4 Servings

2 Artichokes
Kosher salt and pepper
Olive oil
6 Tablespoons butter
1 Lemon

Fill a large pot, with a tight fighting lid, with about 2" of water and place a steamer basket in the pot. 

Heat grill or grill pan over medium heat. If you have a charcoal grill you are heating for other things you are cooking that is perfect and will give the artichokes a fabulous grilled taste. 

Cut the tops of the artichokes off. Then with kitchen shears cut off the thorns on the the tips of the leaves.  Cut the artichoke in half vertically.  

Using a spoon, scoop out the fuzzy choke in the middle of each half.  It might take a little muscle, but not too bad.

Place the cleaned artichokes on the steamer basket and cover.  Bring to a boil and let steam for about 30 minutes.  Be sure and check half way through the cooking time that you don't need more water in the bottom of the pot.

Once the artichokes are tender remove from pot.  Drizzle olive oil on each half.  Generously sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

Grill each half for about 3 minutes a side or until you see nice grill marks.

Serve with melted butter combined with the juice of one lemon.