Sauteed Artichoke Hearts in Lemon Parsley Sauce


When Sherry Page and I headed down to the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival a month ago, we drove past fields of bushy green artichoke plants.  It was a breathtaking sight, miles and miles of maturing buds ready to be harvested. It was just the inspiration I needed to jumpstart my work on this thistle vegetable.


Over the past month I've been experimenting with artichoke recipes, some that have resulted in fiberous stringy specimens, and others that have surpised me by highlighting the versatility and wonderful tender meatiness of this vegetable.  With all of that work I think I've found a favorite: sauteed artichoke hearts in a lemon parsley sauce. Fresh tender artichoke hearts are sauteed in olive oil and minced garlic with a splash of bright lemony flavors.


This is a recipe that my wonderful husband prepared over the weekend to serve as a side dish. It was a surprisingly filling dish that offered a texture similar to tender potatoes without the heavy starches.  We're looking forward to taking advantage of the remainder artichoke season with this recipe. The leftovers make for a good accompaniment to salads. 


Sauteed Artichoke Hearts in Parsley-Lemon Sauce
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Cooking from the Farmers' Market
Ingredients
  • 1 lemon
  • 6 medium-sized artichokes
  • 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, minced
Method
  1. Prepare the artichoke: Have ready a large bowl of water. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the water. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, cut off the stem near the base. Peel back and snap off the first 1 or 2 layers of leaves, then cut off the top one-third of the artichoke. Starting at the base, break off the tough outer leaves, snapping them downward, until you reach the tender, pale green inner leaves. Cut off the uppermost part of the artichoke again, leaving about 1 inch of leaves rising. Trim around the base to make a smooth surface, then cut the artichoke in half lengthwise. If the center choke has developed any prickly tips, scoop it out with the edge of a spoon. Cut each half lengthwise into 4 pieces and drop them into the lemon water. Repeat with the remaining artichokes. When all the artichokes are trimmed, drain and pat dry.
  2. Butter and lemon saute: In a heavy-bottomed large saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the garlic and the artichokes and sauté until the artichokes turn lightly golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Raise the heat to high, add the lemon juice and deglaze the pan, stirring to dislodge any browned bits from the pan bottom. Then add the stock, butter (if using) and salt, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the bases of the artichoke pieces are easily pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes.
  3. Finish:  Stir in the parsley and remove the pan from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the artichoke pieces to warmed individual plates or a serving platter or bowl. Spoon the pan sauce over the top. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Serves 4.

62 comments:

  1. Yum! I've never actually seen artichokes growing...and they're so gorgeous.

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  2. I saw them on a trip to So-Cal, down from the vineyard once, we could not figure out what the heck they were, since back then I was just exploring the culinary world seriously outside of my assisted living chef job-

    So cool! I have made them lately, but since they are not so pretty once cooked I have left them off the posts, well, truthfully I ate my share, so none left :)

    Maybe we will have them tonight!

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  3. Oh wow, how did you know I just picked up some artichokes to fix tonight? :-) Thank you SO much for reading my mind and sharing this gorgeous recipe - I'm looking forward to fixing it! :-)

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  4. Looks so inviting! I have never cooked artichoke myself...and the canned one is not really my kind of food.

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  5. Hi Christine, I just picked up some artichokes yesterday at the farmers market. I will give this recipe a try - it looks great!

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  6. We had to have passed the same artichoke field on the way to PB. Your version looks simple and delicious and those chokes in the picture are so beautiful. Gotta love them, its hard to figure out why they were not well thought of in the beginning.

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  7. This is a delcious way to use artichokes. I may have to follow in your footsteps and cook along.

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  8. I've never seen artichokes growing. How fantastic. This is a delicious and easy way to prepare sauteed artichoke hearts.
    Sam

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  9. looks so good! i have here only preserved artichokes ...

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  10. What beautiful artichokes - this recipe looks delicious. I've had mixed luck preparing these (one time, an artichoke dish turned into an all night project), so I'd like to give this recipe a try.

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  11. This recipe looks both beautiful and delicious. I think proper presentation of artichoke hearts is crucial, and this looks like a fabulous way to make an impressive culinary impression. :-)

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  12. I've seen the artichoke fields in Calif and even eaten at that big artichoke shaped restaurant. I really should prepare them more often. I just haven't taken the time to learn what to do.

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  13. Love this parsley and lemon sauce! It looks delicious!

    Happy Sunday ;D

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  14. I've been looking for the perfect artichoke recipe to ensure that i don't waste them when I finally rack up the nerve to buy some. This looks pretty damn delicious!

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  15. I love this recipe and your post was fantastic. It must have been wonderful to see these babies actually growing in the fields. I appreciate the simplicity of the dish you made for us. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

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  16. The artichokes look so good at the farmer'a markets right now. Looking forward to experimenting...

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  17. the artichokes look so good, i would like to dig my fork into it...simply looking irresistable. i haven't cooked artichokes yet... and i love the pickled one though... but not the canned one.

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  18. I'm pretty sure I mentally bookmarked a very similar recipe as I paged through The French Laundry Cookbook last night. I love artichokes, but the only thing I've ever done with them is steam them. I need to branch out... I really like this idea.

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  19. I'm so glad you published this. I never know what to do with them. This looks great!

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  20. The parsley-lemon sauce is a good balance to the artichoke :)

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  21. Gorgeous artichokes, and the hearts sounds wonderful with the lemon parsley sauce!

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  22. Beautiful dish, I have yet to see the artichoke here in so.cal.
    I'll keep my eyes open.

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  23. What a gorgeous artichoke!I have not seen one so pretty inside. Lovely photo - and I love to eat them, too!
    :)
    Valerie

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  24. Looks wonderful--lemon and artichokes is such a great pairing. ;-)

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  25. What a great recipe to celebrate the essence of the season. Yummy yummy creamy artichokes!

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  26. Christine, they had the most enormous artichokes at union sq WF... I had to buy them and now a great thing to do with them... thanks for the inspiration!!

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  27. I've always wanted to see fresh artichokes... the ones available here are canned..

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  28. Those artichokes are beautiful! They are such a rare food around this part of the US. In fact, it has only been within the past few years that I discovered what the fresh version looks like! :) I love their flavor and this recipe sounds great!

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  29. I would love to see a field of artichokes, what a fascinating sight that would be.
    Your husband did a wonderful job with these artichokes. They look delicious!

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  30. What a lovely artichoke dish! My pasta-loving mind couldn't help but picture this over a plate of linguini!

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  31. Those artichokes are gorgeous!! I'm so jealous (not only of the artichokes, but the fact that your husband cooks for you)!! This sounds like a great dish to prepare with a flaky white fish. Yum.

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  32. Wow, the artichoke sounds really tasty...love the photos :-)

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  33. First off, that top picture is so gorgeous and inviting, FBL!

    Its funny, artichokes are something I can go either way on ... but your description of this dish has me thinking this would be a big YES for me. Yum!

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  34. Very nice - I've never actually known how to cook them. This sounds great!

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  35. This is my favorite way to eat artichokes; it is actually how they are eaten in lebanese cuisine!
    Those artichokes look so healthy and fat! Yum!

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  36. Hey Christina, I'm so impressed that you made homemade artichokes. We're always afraid that we will accidentally leave some of the choke in the cuts, so we never have made them. They are my favorite though over mashed potato-so good.
    Maybe I'll try to conquer my fear soon...

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  37. That looks great. I have to say, I never know what to do with artichokes, they just look so big and hard to deal with. You totally conquered these :D
    *kisses* HH

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  38. These look wonderful! I love fresh artichokes. My mom used to send me boxes of them from California, they were huge and fresh and nothing like the scrawny ones in my local market here in New England. I have never had enough patience to carve out the hearts myself, but these look so good that I may have to do it!

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  39. Artichokes are on sale this week in the local market. I'm running right back to buy some so I can make this mouthwatering recipe. I love artichokes.

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  40. I think one of the things I miss most about living in Northern CA is the artichokes.

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  41. this looks absolutely gorgeous. the flavors sound delicious! we'll have to give it a try sometime soon!

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  42. Simplicity is the best way to bring out the flavor of artichokes. Great recipe. I would love to see them growing.

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  43. Tis the season, I guess! I made artichokes this week too. However, mine were frozen for a quickie. Your recipe looks glorious. Thanks!

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  44. Always a favorite in this household--and your lemon parsley sauce is perfect for the 'chokes.

    I had a friend who tried to grow them, but our Tennessee climate seems ill-suited to this thistley fellow.

    Good luck with the Side Dish Showdown!

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  45. I love touring that area of California while the artichokes are growing because I am always amazed at how tall they are. To me they look like such an ugly plant but the artichoke itself is lovely. What a delicious recipe.

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  46. How fun! The dish looks delicious and your descriptions of the fields of artichoke plants added a beautiful visual effect to the recipe! Thanks for the recipe and good luck with your Side Dish Showdown! Kaho

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  47. I haven't tried artichokes. This look simple enough for me. Besides I love the lemon flavour in it. Thanks for sharing.

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  48. These are the artichokes we picked up together!! :)) Hmm.. now you are motivating me to give them another go with the lemon parsley sauce!!

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  49. What a great side dish!Simple and delicious.I am trying this one soon!

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  50. great dish, and the lemon sauce sounds divine..

    sweetlife

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  51. This has to be one of the very best recipes for artichokes I have ever seen, simple ingredients that brighten and heighten the flavors of the artichoke. Wonderful!!

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  52. Yay! I'm thrilled that you sent your delicious artichokes into the round-up! Thanks Christine!

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  53. It's so weird - I will go to no end of trouble to make some things, and yet artichokes always seem like too much work somehow. But this post really does inspire me to get over myself, because it just looks so, so good and so, so worth it.

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  54. This is a great post. I have never prepared artichokes at home ( head hanging ) but, the side dish that your husband prepared looks fabulous. I think the lemon really helps the artichoke hearts keep a bright color too. I would really like this, I am sure.

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  55. I dont think I've ever tried making artichokes without par boiling the first. Love the idea of going straight to the saute pan.

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  56. Artichokes of my favorite! I love this post and idea!

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  57. I need to conquer my fear of making artichokes at home.

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  58. I would love to see that. I love artichokes but I am afriad I am the only one in my house that does. The other night I had two artichokes for dinner, along with about 1/4 cup of mayo.Delicious.

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  59. These look super super delicious! I had artichokes for the first time on a recent trip to Italy and fell in love with them. I have been looking for a way to prepare them at home and I think my search has ended. These could not look mroe delicious.

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