Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Ghee make a healthy and fun Paleo, Whole30, and Keto appetizer or snack.
When it comes to appetizers, it’s easy to get carried away with long ingredient lists and cutesy, over-stylization.
Steamed artichokes are the antithesis of all that.
With a simple schvitz, one can transform these tasty members of the thistle family into a delicious snack that is easy to make and fun to eat.
It’s nature’s perfect appetizer.
Why Are Artichokes Good For You?
Nutritionally speaking, artichokes are pretty stacked.
Some of their highlights include:
- Rich in fiber, containing almost 6 grams per serving.
- Loaded with antioxidants. According to USDA, artichokes contain the highest antioxidant levels of any vegetable!
- A good source of prebotics.
- High in protein. They contain 4 grams per serving, which is pretty high for a veggie.
Check out this article for more health benefits of artichokes.
How to Steam Artichokes
After rinsing the artichokes well, pluck off the bottom row of petals and trim about half an inch off the stem.
Trim the tips off the large outer petals with some kitchen shears.
Finally, cut about an inch off the top of the artichoke.
Rub both cut ends of the artichoke with half a lemon. This prevents any unsightly browning.
Add two inches of water to a large pot lined with a steamer basket, and squeeze in the remaining juice from the lemon. Bring the water to a boil and add the artichokes, seasoning them with a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
Cover and steam the artichokes for 30-45 minutes. The cooking time will vary based on the size of your artichokes.
To test for doneness, you should be able to easily pull off the petals and insert a knife into the stem with no resistance.
When the artichokes are almost done, heat some ghee and a minced garlic clove in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted. Remove the ghee from the heat and season with salt, pepper, and some minced parsley.
How to Eat Steamed Artichokes
The most fun part about steamed artichokes is eating them! Start by pulling off a petal and dipping it in the garlic ghee.
Scrape the inner part of the petal across your bottom teeth removing the tender flesh. Discard the rest of the petal.
As you work your way down the artichoke, you can start eating the entire tender inner petals.
Eventually you will hit the bristly inner hairs, aka the choke. Scoop them out with a spoon and discard.
Congratulations! You’ve reached the best part of an artichoke–the heart! Slice it up with a knife, dip it in the ghee and enjoy!
For another tasty Keto and Whole30 appetizer check out these Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Ranch Dip!
Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Ghee
Ingredients
- 2 globe artichokes
- 1 lemon halved
- 1/3 cup ghee
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh parsley minced
- sea salt
- black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the artichokes well, then trim half an inch off each stem. Cut an inch off the top off each artichoke and trim the tips off the outer leaves with kitchen shears. Rub the cut ends of the artichokes with the lemon.
- Add 2 inches of water to a large pot lined with a steamer basket and squeeze in the remaining juice from the lemon. Bring the water to a boil and add the artichokes, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cover the pot and steam the artichokes for 30-40 minutes, until very tender.
- Meanwhile, at the ghee and garlic to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the ghee is melted and hot. Remove from heat and season with salt, pepper, and minced parsley.
- To eat, dip the artichoke leaves in the ghee and scrape the flesh off with your lower teeth, discarding the outer leaf.
- Once the inner choke is reached, scrape it out with a spoon and discard. Roughly cut the heart with a knife and dip it in the ghee.
Equipment
- Steamer Basket
- Kitchen Shears
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