Easy Rustic Artichokes
Questa ricetta è disponibile anche in italiano
These Rustic Artichokes with caper and olives are a scrumptious and healthy side to enjoy both warm or at room temperature during artichoke season.
This is actually a recipe that my mum came up with and she has been doing it for years, even before turning vegan.
That’s because to eat vegan you don’t necessarily need to put extra effort into your dishes. There are tons of recipes out there, even the most traditional that are what we call nowadays “accidentally vegan”.
A few examples are:
– Zucchine alla Scapece
– Castagnelle Cookies
– Falafel
– Baked Beans
– Roast Potatoes
– Kimchi
– Taralli
– Focaccia
– Ribollita (Tuscan Cavolo Nero & Bean Soup)
The beauty of this recipe is that comes together in 15 minutes (minus the time to prep and slice the artichokes) and it’s packed with gorgeous nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Artichokes are a low cal vegetable but rich in vitamins K and C, as well as being one of the best vegetable sources of protein (one medium artichoke can have up to 4 grams of proteins! – source).
If you like this vegetable, also have a look at this Artichoke Parmigiana!
Then we have the combo olive oil and olives which provide good healthy fats.
Let’s see how to prepare these gorgeous rustic artichokes, shall we?
How to Make Rustic Artichokes
STEP 1 – PREP THE ARTICHOKES
First thing is to clean the artichokes.
Prepare a bowl filled with water and squeeze into the juice of a lemon. Also add some parsley stalks or sprigs to the water if you have some at hand. These will help the artichokes cores not going dark (oxidate) whilst prepping the rest.
Remove the outer-tough leaves (those are actually petals, as the artichoke is a flower. You didn’t know that, didn’t you?) until tender ones start showing. Then trim off the top part of the leaves and start removing all the green part around the stalk and the bulb (that’s the bitter part).
Next brush the artichoke with one half of the lemon that you previously squeezed into the water, and place the cleaned artichoke into the bowl.
Continue for all the artichokes. If you are still unsure how to clean this vegetable, this video might help you.
Once our artichokes are clean, cut each heart in half, remove the hairy core (if any) and cut them into slices.
Alternatively, you can also use frozen artichokes.
STEP 2 – SAUTE’
In a pan or small wok add the oil, garlic and the artichokes slices. Season with salt and pepper and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Now it’s time to add a splash of white wine and allow it to evaporate for a couple of minutes.
Add capers and olives, and add around half a glass of water to start with.
Cook out on medium heat until the artichokes go tender (5-10 minutes). You may need to add an extra splash of water, depending on how thick or tender your artichokes slices are.
STEP 3 – FINISHING TOUCHES
Once the artichokes are cooked through, add the breadcrumbs, the vegan cheese and fresh parsley.
Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy!
Easy Rustic Artichokes Recipe
Ingredients:
5-6 Artichokes
30 ml White Wine
2 tbsp Bread Crumbs (use GF for a gluten free version)
2 tbsp Black Olives
1 Lemon
1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp Vegan Grated Cheese
1/2 tbsp Capers
Fresh Parsley
Salt
Pepper
Water
Method:
1. Clean the artichokes and cut them into slices (see full post for tips).
2. In a pan or small wok add the oil, garlic and the artichokes slices. Season with salt and pepper and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the white wine and allow it to evaporate for a couple of minutes.
4. Add capers and olives, and add around half a glass of water to start with.
5. Cook out on medium heat until the artichokes go tender (5-10 minutes). You may need to add an extra splash of water, depending on how thick or tender your artichokes slices are.
6. Once the artichokes are cooked through, add the breadcrumbs, the vegan cheese and fresh parsley.
7. Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy!
