
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. 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 the perfect recipe to put out on the table for guests at a dinner table. Most people don't eat artichokes or have never eaten them. But this can be your opportunity to give your guests something new, plus they are addicting. 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.

The Minimal Ingredients You Need
- 4 artichokes
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 cup water
How to Make Artichokes
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. You can use shears to cut the pointy ends of the leaves if you want, but I don't find it necessary. You don't eat that part anyway.
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 15-20 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.
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Try some of our other sides and appetizers below!
Mussels in Tomato White Wine Sauce
The Best Homemade Shrimp Cocktail
My Favorite Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts
📖 Recipe
Easy Steamed Artichokes
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 15-20 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!
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