• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Sourced

The FreshDirect blog

  • Recipes
  • Our Partners
  • FreshDirect News
  • Sustainability
  • Eat With The Season
  • Shop

How to Make Easy Braised Heirloom Artichokes

FreshDirect Partner · March 22, 2017 ·

Plus, how to prepare artichokes for cooking.

20170313 Artichoke Blog/Banner Recipe Shoot Photographed by John J Kelly III Request by Devika Kumar Food Styling by Michael Kanter

Like a family recipe, this unique variety of artichoke grows only from the same root stock that has been passed down to each generation of family farmers for more than 90 years—never from seed. The heirloom artichoke variety is a perennial plant that is re-grown from original root stock that dates back as far as the 1924 with Ocean Mist Farms. Some of our perennial plants are as old as 20 years!

When heirlooms are available, they are the best eating artichoke. These perennial plants take longer to grow (approximately 9 months) than other varieties grown from seed. By growing slowly during the winter months, the heirloom artichokes get a thicker center heart and meatier petals with an intense flavor. What’s more, one medium artichoke has only 60 calories and provides a whopping 7 grams of dietary fiber, 4.2 grams of protein, and is a nutritional powerhouse with folic acid. iron, B-6, magnesium and vitamin C.

Not sure how to cut chokes? Simply cut in half, remove the leaves, and scoop out the insides:

artichokes-step-by-step-680x680

Now that you’ve mastered the cut, conquer braised artichokes. They’re the perfect side dish!

What You’ll Need:
3 lemons
8 large artichokes
1 medium yellow onion, peeled
2 small leeks, tops trimmed, green outer leaves discarded, halved lengthwise, and rinsed of sand
2 celery stalks, trimmed and peeled
2 small carrots, peeled
2 to 3 pieces thick-slice bacon, about 4 ounces (optional)
1/2 cup (or 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons if not using bacon) extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 garlic cloves, peeled
2 dried bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh tarragon
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup dry white wine

What to Do:
Combine the juice of 2 1/2 of the lemons and 2 quarts of water in a large bowl. Trim each artichoke, removing all but about an inch of the stem, the leaves, and with a spoon, scoop out the thistles of the flower inside. Rub the artichokes with the remaining half lemon as you work to keep from discoloring. Place the artichoke hearts in the lemon water.

Cut the onion lengthwise and then thinly slice lengthwise. Cut the leeks into 2 inch pieces and then cut them into 1/4-inch wide strips. Cut the celery and carrots on the diagonal into 1/8-inch thick slices.

If you’re using the bacon, place it in a large sauté pan with a lid that will be large enough to hold all of the vegetables and the artichokes in a single layer. Place over medium heat and render the fat for 2-3 minutes, turning the pieces once. Add 1/4 cup of the oil, mix with the bacon and cook over medium heat. Add the onion, leeks, celery, and carrots. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly cook the bacon and vegetables, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not brown, about 10-12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

Drain the artichokes and place them stem side up in the vegetables, leaving space in between each one. Add the bay leaves, herbs, a little more salt and pepper, and the remaining 1/4 cup of the oil. Pour in the wine and 1 1/2 cups of water. Partially cover the pan, and reduce the heat as necessary to keep the artichokes at a gentle simmer, until they can be easily pierced with a knife, 30-40 minutes. If the stems are not cooking as quickly as the chokes, turn from time to time to immerse the stems in the simmering liquid.

Remove from the heat and allow the artichokes to cool slowly in the braising liquid. The artichokes can be served warm with the aromatic vegetables and some of the cooking liquid or at room temperature.

Filed Under: Alcohol & Beverages, Eat With The Season, Recipes Tagged With: Artichoke, easy recipes, Savor the Season, seasonal

Primary Sidebar

Search

Read More

Get Social With FreshDirect

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram

@FreshDirect On Instagram

Share the love (and save some for yourself) with b Share the love (and save some for yourself) with bite-size white chocolate pretzel hearts 💕🥨 

Shop the ingredients in our bio!
Don’t mind us, just blessing the timeline with o Don’t mind us, just blessing the timeline with our February list picks. No biggie!
Happy Black History Month! To celebrate, we'll hig Happy Black History Month! To celebrate, we'll highlight a few of our favorite Black-owned businesses. For starters, check out @zachandzoehoney, a family-owned business who knows a thing or two about bees. Specializing in honey production and superfood blending, their passion for bees and wellness led them to creating some of the sweetest honey we've ever had. Brother and sister, Zach and Zoë, and their parents Summer and Kam Johnson, have created over half a dozen honey flavors combined with superfoods to enhance the nutritional effects.

Check out the link in bio to purchase!
Baby, it's still cold outside, so warm up with som Baby, it's still cold outside, so warm up with something soup-erb. We offer a large selection of delicious soups to keep you and your family warm inside, including a brand new assortment of organic brands.
There's nothing better than organic salmon, and th There's nothing better than organic salmon, and there's no better salmon than from Norway. When you're looking for somehing new to revive your palate after all that holiday eating, try @seafoodfromnorway_us's receipt for Norwegian Salmon with Hot Honey Glaze. Link in bio to shop ingredients

What you'll need:
1 - 8 ounce Norwegian salmon fillet, skinned, deboned and divided into two 4 ounce fillets
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
¼ cup honey
½ teaspoon sambal
1 tablespoon sliced red or green chilies

What you'll do:
1. In a heavy bottom sauce pan over medium high heat, add honey, sambal and chilies. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and set aside. The longer the honey sits the more flavor the chilies release.
2. In the meantime, pat salmon dry and season with salt, coriander, smoked paprika and fresh cracked pepper.
3. Add oil to a cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, add salmon to the pan, presentation side down.
4. Cook the salmon for four minutes; flip and cook for another three minutes. Top salmon with glaze while in pan, to coat each filet.
5. Transfer to serving plates, top with more chili sauce, serve with brussels sprouts or your favorite vegetable, if desired.

Recipe adapted from Seafood From Norway & Chef Jeffrey Quasha
Add a little kick to your weeknight meal repertoir Add a little kick to your weeknight meal repertoire with or version of Thai-style Beef and Basil. This Thai-style stir fry brings together ground beef, fragrant basil, and a flavorful sauce. It’s quick and easy to prepare, making it great for mixing things up on a weeknight.

Link in bio for full recipe
Hoppy Lunar New Year! 🐰 🧧 恭喜发财 A wh Hoppy Lunar New Year! 🐰 🧧 恭喜发财

A whole fish represents a wish for prosperity when served as part of a #lunarnewyear feast. And not only is it festive, it's super easy to make. Give it a try with this classic Chinese preparation - you can even use fish fillets if you prefer. Head to the link in our bio for the full #recipe and shopping list.
Whether you're taking the month off from drinking Whether you're taking the month off from drinking or just want more options without the alcohol, these beverages will bring the flavor and complexity you're looking for. From booze-less beers to health-boosting tonics, you won't miss the adult stuff with this line up. Head to our bio for the full list!
Citrus season is upon us! 🍊 Celebrate with this Citrus season is upon us! 🍊 Celebrate with this bright and beautiful salad -- perfect for (small) hosting and impressing friends.

Mix radicchio with kale or arugula, add in cut citrus and top with EVOO, vinegar, and s&p. Spice it up with thinly sliced fennel or sunflower seeds if you're feeling extra special. Check the link in our bio for the full shopping list!
Follow @FreshDirect