Seasonal Eating :: April :: Artichokes + Recipe

I love, love, love , and love artichokes. One of my now fav veggies in the world. Artichokes were foreign to me up until a few years ago and now I just can’t get enough.

Nutrients
Rich in magnesium, chromium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, iron, calcium, fiber, Vitamin A, B, C, and folate.
They offer about 4 grams of protein, fat free, and very low in calories.

Benefits
Artichokes have been shown to lower cholesterol, and are believed to contribute toward prevention of cancer, heart disease, and birth defects (folate).

Artichokes are very versatile in the ways they can be prepared. They can be steamed, boiled, baked, fried, or even stuffed. I prefer steaming or baking to maintain the majority of nutrients.

Recipe
Steamed Artichokes with Soy-Free Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
(ingredients are always organic unless noted otherwise)
2 large artichokes
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 cup soy-free Earth Balance Spread
3 garlic cloves, finely diced
pinch of cayenne
sea salt

Preparation:
Trim the end of the stem and place the artichoke upright, coking in a covered saucepan with 1 inch of water.
Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 30-45 minutes. You know your artichoke is done when you can pierce the artichoke heart (with is at the base of the artichoke) easily.

While the artichoke is steaming, a small saucepan, melt the earth balance spread. Add the garlic, saute for 1 minute, and add lemon juice, pinch of cayenne and sea salt to taste.
To eat, dip the leaves in the sauce and savor the moment.