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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Easy Steamed Artichokes

    Published: Apr 26, 2023 · Modified: Apr 24, 2024 by Vinny · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The easiest way to cook artichokes and make them taste phenomenal. You don't need all the stuffing, just make these Easy Steamed Artichokes with less than 5 minutes of active work.

    steamed artichokes

    Looking for more easy sides? Try our Summer Farro Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, or Marinated Eggplant and Onion.

    Jump to:
    • Steamed vs. Stuffed Artichokes
    • How to Make Artichokes
    • How to Eat Artichokes
    • FAQs
    • More Appetizers!
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Reviews

    Steamed vs. Stuffed Artichokes

    Steamed Artichokes is a recipe I didn't grow up with. My family was always a stuffed artichoke family. But my wife introduced me to these easy steamed artichokes and I have been turned. Italian Stuffed artichokes have their place, but for me, I'm looking to enjoy the taste of the artichokes and this lets me do just that!

    Steamed artichokes are so much faster and easier to make. You have one leaf, then a second, then a third, and next thing you know, you're eating the artichoke heart.

    There's something inherently cool about eating artichokes. As a kid, I remember it being such an adult thing to do. So, now I equate eating artichokes to like the vegetarian version of eating raw clams. It's something different and so tasty. Try these easy steamed artichokes for your next dinner party. They are cheap, easy, and delicious.

    How to Make Artichokes

    peeling leaves off at the base

    Step 1: Peel the dryer leaves off the base of the stem. Then cut off the base at the stem so that it can sit up straight on its own.

    cutting off top of artichoke

    Step 2: Cut the artichoke's head off about 1 inch down. Then use your hand to squeeze and stretch out the leaves a little bit. You can use shears to cut the pointy ends of the leaves if there are any left. You don't eat that part anyway.

    artichokes in the pot

    Step 3: Place all four artichokes into a pot side by side. Add 1 inch of water to the bottom of the pot. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over each artichoke. Salt and pepper all of the artichokes.

    steamed artichokes

    Step 4: Cover the pot and place it on medium-high heat allowing the water to boil for 30 minutes. The artichokes are done when you can remove an artichoke leaf but there still remains some resistance when you pull. It should be like shimmying a really loose tooth.

    Serve easy steamed artichokes as an appetizer before dinner!

    How to Eat Artichokes

    This is the fun part. You get to teach people who have never had them how to eat them. In my experience, most people who didn't grow up in an Italian household didn't eat artichokes. Just grab one leaf at a time and pull. When you pull a leaf out, it will have a little white meaty part at the bottom. Bite down easily on it and then drag your front teeth across it to remove the edible part. The closer you get to the middle of the artichoke, the easier it will be to just bite it off.

    Once you eat all the leaves, there will be the little hairy heart left. Now, some people are more comfortable ripping all the little hairs off, but they are just as edible as the rest of the artichoke heart. I usually just eat it all because it's a pain to pull the hair off but you can do either.

    Definitely serve them alongside our Spinach and Artichoke Dip No Mayo to get the full artichoke effect.

    steamed artichokes

    FAQs

    How long should I steam my artichokes?

    30 minutes is my go-to answer but every artichoke is different. Artichokes are done cooking when you can pull a leaf off without much effort.

    Should I wash Artichokes before steaming?

    Yes, rinse them with cold water before cooking.

    Please leave us a rating below! Follow us @vindelgiudice on Instagram and @alwaysfromscratch on Tiktok!

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    📖 Recipe

    steamed artichokes

    Easy Steamed Artichokes

    Vincent DelGiudice
    Steamed artichokes are so easy to make and they are the perfect appetizer for dinner. Plus, you can show all your non-artichoke-eating friends how to eat them, which is fun.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 artichokes
    Calories 184 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 dutch oven or small pot

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 artichokes
    • 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
    • 1 cup water

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the artichoke's head off about ½-inch to 1-inch down. Then cut off the base at the stem so that it can sit up straight on its own. Use your hand to stretch out the leaves a little bit.
    • Place all four artichokes into a pot side by side. Add 1 inch of water to the bottom of the pot. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over each artichoke. Salt and pepper all of the artichokes.
    • Cover the pot and place it on medium-high heat allowing the water to boil for 30 minutes. The artichokes are done when you can remove an artichoke leaf but there still remains some resistance when you pull.
    • Serve easy steamed artichokes as an appetizer before dinner!

    Notes

    1. Once you get to the center of the artichoke rip the little hairy part off and eat the heart. It's the best part. The hair is edible but the texture is usually a turn off for people. 
    2. The artichokes are perfectly steamed when you can pull a leaf off without much effort. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 1286mgPotassium: 474mgFiber: 7gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 17IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?We'd love for you to Leave a Review!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carrie

      April 30, 2025 at 11:18 pm

      We ate these as teenagers like this growing up. Either with mayo for dipping sauce or sometimes a buttery garlic dip. That's how I fell in love with steamed artichokes!

      Reply
    2. Vinny

      June 19, 2024 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      This is such an easy side dish recipe and the best way to make artichokes. You'll love this recipe!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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    Vinny in the Kitchen.

    Vinny DelGiudice, MS CCC-SLP

    My name is Vinny. I am an Italian-American home cook, a photographer, and previously, a speech pathologist specializing in swallowing and voice disorders. I share the recipes I grew up eating in my home and the recipes that I cook for my family. Always From Scratch is about cooking homemade meals and eating with family.

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