Soft and Tasty Sautéed Artichokes are one of the most beloved side dishes in home cooking. Tender, flavorful, and super easy to prepare, they’re perfect for any occasion.
Today I’ll show you how to achieve soft and non-bitter artichokes with a simple and quick recipe. In about 20 minutes, you’ll have a fragrant, tender dish perfect to accompany meat, fish, or vegetarian dishes.
The artichoke is a perennial herbaceous plant primarily grown for culinary use and highly appreciated for its beneficial properties. It is low in calories, high in fiber, and often used in light diets. Additionally, it is recognized for its purifying and detoxifying properties, especially for the liver.
In cooking, artichokes are loved for their flavorful and versatile taste. In Roman tradition, for example, they are prepared with garlic, oil, parsley, or mint, but they are also great fried or used to enrich pasta dishes and vegetarian lasagnas. Being a typically spring vegetable, they are perfect for many seasonal recipes, especially during the Easter period.
Preparing sautéed artichokes is very easy: just clean them well, cut them into wedges, and cook them with a few ingredients to get a tender and non-bitter side dish. By following a few small tricks, they will become soft and truly flavorful.
Sautéed artichokes are perfect as a side dish but also to enrich omelets, savory pies, or simply enjoyed with good bread.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 132.45 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 16.54 (g) of which sugars 1.32 (g)
- Proteins 3.96 (g)
- Fat 7.33 (g) of which saturated 1.09 (g)of which unsaturated 0.21 (g)
- Fibers 7.39 (g)
- Sodium 458.89 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 130 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 4 artichokes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- to taste salt
- to taste chili pepper
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1/2 cup water
Tools
To clean the artichokes, I recommend a vegetable knife, a large bowl for water and lemon. For cooking, a non-stick pan with a lid.
- 1 Knife
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Pan
Preparation
preparing sautéed artichokes, once the artichokes are cleaned, is truly simple.
To prepare perfect sautéed artichokes, it’s important to clean them well.
1 Remove the tougher outer leaves.
2 Cut off the tip.
3 Peel the stem and keep it (it’s delicious).
4 Cut into wedges.
5 Remove the internal fuzz if present.
6 Immediately place them in water with lemon.
This step prevents them from browning and becoming bitter.
➊ After cleaning the artichokes, cut them into wedges and rinse them well.
➋ Place them directly in a pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
➌ Add the chopped garlic, chili pepper, salt, and chopped parsley.
➍ Add half a glass of water and mix well.
➎ Cover with the lid and bring to the stove on high heat for the first 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
➏ When the artichokes begin to soften and are slightly browned, lower the heat.
➐ Continue cooking with the lid for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
➑ If necessary, add a little water during cooking to keep them soft.
At the end of cooking, they should be tender and easily pierced with a fork.
Serve the sautéed artichokes hot: they will be soft, flavorful, and perfect as a seasonal side dish.
TIPS FOR PERFECT SAUTÉED ARTICHOKES
To achieve soft and tasty sautéed artichokes, choose fresh, firm artichokes without dry leaves. The more tender artichokes cook better and remain sweet and non-bitter.
During cooking, always check that they don’t dry out too much: if necessary, add a little water at a time. This way, the artichokes will become soft and creamy without burning.
If you love more intense flavors, you can enrich them with:
• black olives
• capers
• a final squeeze of lemon
• or a sprinkle of grated pecorino cheese
They will be even tastier.
HOW TO USE SAUTÉED ARTICHOKES
Sautéed artichokes are a very versatile side dish and can be served in many different ways.
They are perfect:
• with roast or grilled meat
• with fish
• with eggs and omelets
• on bruschetta
• to fill savory pies
They are also great simply with good bread to mop up the sauce.
STORAGE
Sautéed artichokes can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2 days in a well-sealed container.
To enjoy them at their best, I recommend reheating them in a pan with a drizzle of oil and a splash of water: they’ll be as soft as when freshly made.
Freezing is not recommended as they may lose texture.
If you love the simple and genuine flavors of home cooking, soft and tasty sautéed artichokes are the perfect side dish to bring to the table during this period: easy, economical, and always irresistible.
If you love the simple and genuine flavors of home cooking, soft and tasty sautéed artichokes are the perfect side dish to bring to the table during this period: easy, economical, and always irresistible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which artichokes should I use?
For this recipe, you can use any variety of artichokes.
Can I freeze them?
Yes, you can freeze the already cooked sautéed artichokes to have them ready in five minutes by heating them in the microwave.
