Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Butter

Steamed artichokes (artichoke heart and petals) with garlic butter dipping sauce.

5 from 12 votes

Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Butter

Steamed artichokes with garlic butter dipping sauce are healthy, delicious, easy-to-make appetizers perfect for spring gatherings. Artichokes have a meaty texture and earthy flavor, and dipping each leaf into melted butter is genuinely a classic treat.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Total Time55

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 112kcal

Author: Kushi

Equipment

Pot or Steamer

Ingredients

To cook artichokes

2 Artichokes
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt to taste

Garlic butter dipping sauce

3 tablespoon Butter or vegan butter
4 Garlic cloves
2 to 4 sprigs Cilantro or parsley, chopped
½ teaspoon Dried basil leaves
2 to 3 teaspoon Lemon juice
Salt, to taste

Instructions

How to cook artichokes?

Remove the stem (bottom) of the artichoke so that they sit flat. Using a scissor, trim the tip of each leaf. Now rub each trimmed edge with lemon juice and keep it aside while you repeat the process for the other artichoke. Applying lemon juice prevents it from turning brown.
2 Artichokes, Juice of ½ lemon, Salt to taste
Choose a pan such that these artichokes fit snugly in the pan. Add water to the pan to submerge the base of the artichoke (about 1 inch). Add ½ tablespoon of lemon juice and salt to taste. Bring it to a nice boil on medium-high heat, and then cover and simmer for another 30 minutes on medium-low heat or until the leaves can be pulled off easily.
Carefully remove the steamed artichokes from the water and allow them to cool down completely.

How to make garlic butter dipping sauce

Using a mortar and pestle, crush garlic cloves.
4 Garlic cloves
In a pan on medium heat, add butter, let it melt, and slowly start turning golden.
3 tablespoon Butter or vegan butter
Add crushed garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Be sure not to burn the garlic. Switch off the flame.
Add cilantro, basil leaves, lemon juice, and salt and stir.
2 to 4 sprigs Cilantro or parsley, chopped, ½ teaspoon Dried basil leaves, 2 to 3 teaspoon Lemon juice, Salt, to taste
Transfer this to a small bowl or ramekin.

How to eat an artichoke?

To eat: pull the leaves off the steamed artichokes one at a time. Dip the base of the leaves into the prepared garlic butter dip and pull through your teeth to remove the soft and pulpy portion. Discard the remaining fibrous part of the leaves.
Once you finish off the leaves, use a spoon and scrape out the hair of the artichoke, and there comes the best part. The "heart of the artichoke." Eat this by dipping it in the melted garlic butter sauce, and enjoy!

Notes

You can use basil, thyme, rosemary, or any herb of your choice.
Substitute butter with olive oil for a vegan version.
You can add peppercorns and bay leaves while steaming artichokes if desired.
The time to cook artichokes may depend on the size. The bigger it is, the longer time it takes.
You can add other flavors to the sauce or simply serve the artichokes with melted butter and enjoy.

Nutrition