Microwave braised artichokes are a great quick side dish based on artichokes. A classic of Italian cuisine that you’ll also find in the section how to cook vegetables in the microwave. At the microwave cooking class I held in Pietra Ligure, some attendees gifted me vegetables from their gardens. It was such a joy to receive them. Among them were beautiful artichokes that I adore. I enjoyed some as a side dish, while with the other half of the braised artichokes I made an artichoke omelette in the microwave. I had thought of making artichokes and potatoes in the microwave, then I thought that by braising them I could make some farro with artichokes in jar cooking or even some rice and it ended up that the microwave-braised artichokes were so good that we ate them all.
At the end of this recipe, I will reveal some tricks for cleaning artichokes and how to replace the heating pan.
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Microwave
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Winter, Spring, Easter
- Energy 178.14 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 24.48 (g) of which sugars 1.50 (g)
- Proteins 5.13 (g)
- Fat 8.45 (g) of which saturated 2.29 (g)of which unsaturated 0.94 (g)
- Fibers 7.53 (g)
- Sodium 290.26 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 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
- 7 artichokes
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups water (cold)
- 0.35 oz butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 bunch parsley
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 pinches pepper
What You Need
- 1 Bowl large
- 1 Microwave dish made of heat-resistant material
- 1 Microwave oven
Procedure
Pour the water into the bowl, add the flour, and mix well. Clean the artichokes by removing the outer tough leaves, trim and peel the stem, and cut off part of the tougher leaves. Then, cut the artichoke in half, and using a small knife or a melon baller, remove the central part with the “choke.” Cut the artichokes into wedges, immersing them in the water as you go and mixing well. You can do this the night before, perhaps while watching a movie. When the artichokes are cleaned, cut, and immersed in the water, place a plate on top and use them the next day.
Did you know that using flour keeps them white, cold water keeps them crunchy, and not using lemon prevents the artichokes from having its aftertaste?
Peel and chop the garlic clove, distribute it in the microwave dish, and add the butter and oil. Braise in the microwave for 1 minute at about 1000 watts. Then, add the drained artichokes, salt, pepper, and mix.
Cook the artichokes in the microwave, without a lid for 5 minutes at 800 watts.
Finally, mix the artichokes, cover with the appropriate lid and finish cooking for 10 minutes, still at 800 watts.
Wash and chop the parsley, mix it with the artichokes, and serve. You can use the braised artichokes to make an omelette, fill a savory pie, or season a first course.
Additional Tips for Cooking Artichoke Wedges in the Microwave
If you prefer, you can steam the artichokes in the microwave by adding just 100 ml of water to the dish.
How to Cook Artichokes in the Microwave without a Heating Tray (Crisp)
If you don’t have a dish with a lid, don’t worry, you can still cook the artichokes in the microwave.
There are 2 options: use a Crisp tray and add 100 ml of vegetable broth to the artichokes, cook for an additional 5 minutes compared to the recipe; use a Pyrex dish, after the first 5 minutes of cooking, cover with microwave-safe plastic wrap and make a small hole. Continue cooking as per the recipe.
