How to cook artichokes in slow cooker

The ins and outs of cooking and eating artichokes. A flower-on-a-thistle plant that I love!

How to cook artichokes

• Steaming gives the most nutrition per bite of artichoke. They are dense so take around 45 minutes to an hour to to cook. You can boil them by cooking in boiling water. Return to boil, reduce heat and simmer 40 minutes or so, depending on size, or until petals near center pulls out easily.
• Cooked in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, they’re done in 10 minutes.
• You can bake them, covered or wrapped in foil, at 350 degrees F.
• Using a slow cooker, this convenient recipe allows some time flexibility.

Slow cooker artichoke recipe

The ingredients

• 2 artichokes
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ½ cup white wine or water

1. Rinse artichokes. Removing the stem allows the artichokes to sit better in the slow cooker. Spread the petals open for seasoning and place directly into the slow cooker, stem down.
2. Combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt and garlic. Drizzle over artichokes.
3. Pour wine into the bottom of the slow cooker and fill with just enough water to cover the bottom quarter of the artichokes. Set on high setting and cover with lid; cook until tender, 3 to 4 hours. Cook time can vary depending on size of artichoke.

When in artichoke season?

March to May ’tis the season for California-grown artichokes. It’s where all the commercial artichokes in this country come from.

You just have to wonder who first ate this flower-on-a-thistle plant. Thank goodness they did!

Artichoke nutrition

One large artichoke has about 5 grams of fiber with only 25 calories, and is a good source of vitamin C, folate, and magnesium. Artichokes are packed with beneficial plant compounds, but they don’t last too long, so plan to eat them within a couple days of purchase. Keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to cook them.

How to buy artichokes

Choose artichokes that look fresh, feel heavy for their size and have tightly packed leaves. When you’re ready to cook them, rinse under cold, running water. Pull off lower petals and trim stems. If you trim the petals dip the ‘chokes in a bowl of water that has a splash of lemon juice to preserve the color.

How to eat artichokes

To eat these fiber-rich gems, pluck the leaves and scrape the pulp off with your slightly clenched teeth.

• Dip the leaves in a vinaigrette.
• My favorite dip is a mix of curry powder, Greek-style yogurt and some mayonnaise.
• Try stirring salsa into mayo to dip your artichoke.
• Use canned artichokes in Artichoke Jalapeno Dip

When you get down to the center, cut out this “fuzzy choke.” The center is where the heart of the choke is, so keep eating to enjoy this meaty section. What’s your favorite dip?

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