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Artichokes and how to prepare them

SoCalZone10

SoCalZone10

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Mod.edit: This post and lots of following posts have been moved from What’s going on in your garden (2026)? to form a new topic (MG)

I’m thinking of growing artichoke plants in my front garden, here is a series of pictures from one year.
The flowers are stunning, I didn’t how to eat artichokes except to boil them and drink the water.

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Emerging artichokes

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Close up

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

About to bloom

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Blooming state
 
Last edited by a moderator:
SoCalZone10 said:
I’m thinking of growing artichoke plants in my front garden, here is a series of pictures from one year.
The flowers are stunning, I didn’t how to eat artichokes except to boil them and drink the water.

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Emerging artichokes

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Close up

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

About to bloom

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Blooming state
Click to expand...
Do you know how to eat them now? They're very good!
 
SoCalZone10 said:
I’m thinking of growing artichoke plants in my front garden, here is a series of pictures from one year.
The flowers are stunning, I didn’t how to eat artichokes except to boil them and drink the water.

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Emerging artichokes

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Close up

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

About to bloom

Purple artichokes

Purple artichokes

Blooming state
Click to expand...

A favourite of mine. You can microwave them. Easy!
 
I love artichokes, but as stupid as it sounds, I can’t figure out how to get from a whole globe artichoke to what you find in the little jars of artichoke hearts. All the recipes seem to favor stuffing them and eating them whole.
 
TastyReuben said:
I love artichokes, but as stupid as it sounds, I can’t figure out how to get from a whole globe artichoke to what you find in the little jars of artichoke hearts. All the recipes seem to favor stuffing them and eating them whole.
Click to expand...
I do love artichoke hearts, but I get a big jar from Costco and they were not eaten.
 
Morning Glory said:
A favourite of mine. You can microwave them. Easy!
Click to expand...
😱

TastyReuben said:
I love artichokes, but as stupid as it sounds, I can’t figure out how to get from a whole globe artichoke to what you find in the little jars of artichoke hearts. All the recipes seem to favor stuffing them and eating them whole.
Click to expand...
You cut the end off and steam or boil and eat it down to the little pointed dome of hairy things in the middle. Pull, and toss those, and you're left with the heart!

Morning Glory said:
Can you buy the whole thistle?
Click to expand...
That's the only way I buy them!
1000056045.jpg
 
Morning Glory said:
Can you buy the whole thistle?
Click to expand...
Yes, I’ve bought them several times in the past.

SoCalZone10 said:
I do love artichoke hearts, but I get a big jar from Costco and they were not eaten.
Click to expand...
They’re very versatile. I love them in salad, in pasta, dip, roasted. They have a very unique taste.

Barriehie said:
You cut the end off and steam or boil and eat it down to the little pointed dome of hairy things in the middle. Pull, and toss those, and you're left with the heart!
Click to expand...
Every video I’ve watched (and I’ve watched dozens) follow roughly the same process - cut the top off, break the leaves off, dig the choke out, scrape it clean, then boil it or stuff and bake it.

I want the bits that look like what come out of the jars. I’ve bought probably a dozen artichokes, and I start cutting off the tops, breaking off the leaves, and I take off more leaves, and more leaves, and then I’m left with a big pile of leaves and the fuzzy choke. I don’t know where the stuff that comes from the jars is on an actual artichoke. No one seems to get to those in any of the videos.
 
Barriehie said:
😱


You cut the end off and steam or boil and eat it down to the little pointed dome of hairy things in the middle. Pull, and toss those, and you're left with the heart!


That's the only way I buy them!View attachment 140219
Click to expand...

Exactly. Although the the base of the coarse leaves are traditionally eaten dipped in vinaigrette in French cuisine. You drag them over your bottom teeth. Delicious!

But many folk only know them as jarred. In the case of jarred, young artichokes are used as in much Italian cooking. So the small leaves can be eaten and the choke is not developed.
 
TastyReuben said:
Yes, I’ve bought them several times in the past.


They’re very versatile. I love them in salad, in pasta, dip, roasted. They have a very unique taste.


Every video I’ve watched (and I’ve watched dozens) follow roughly the same process - cut the top off, break the leaves off, dig the choke out, scrape it clean, then boil it or stuff and bake it.

I want the bits that look like what come out of the jars. I’ve bought probably a dozen artichokes, and I start cutting off the tops, breaking off the leaves, and I take off more leaves, and more leaves, and then I’m left with a big pile of leaves and the fuzzy choke. I don’t know where the stuff that comes from the jars is on an actual artichoke. No one seems to get to those in any of the videos.
Click to expand...
It's in the middle!

I'll get one and take pics.
 
Morning Glory said:
But many folk only know them as jarred. In the case of jarred, young artichokes are used as in much Italian cooking. So the small leaves can be eaten and the choke is not developed.
Click to expand...
Maybe that’s my issue…I need to buy baby ones, but they don’t sell those here, only the ones the size of grapefruit.
 
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