17 Artichoke Recipes

Artichokes are the flower of the vegetable world, with sharp leaves and enough prep to scare some home cooks away. While they may look intimidating, artichokes are easier to prepare at home than they look, and the results are every bit worth the effort.

Look for fresh artichokes in the springtime. If you're lucky enough to have a farmers market nearby or a grocer with a good selection of produce, you may notice a few different varieties of artichokes. Most of the artichokes available in the U.S. are globe artichokes and can range in size from lime-sized baby artichokes to giant, softball-sized specimens. Prepared artichoke hearts can also be found frozen or jarred year-round.

Since the artichoke is part of a thistle plant, it contains a fibrous area called a choke. Small, baby artichokes can be eaten whole, but all others require the choke to be removed before or after cooking. Directly beneath the choke is the heart, the best-tasting, tenderest part of the flower. Parts of the outermost leaves are also edible, as are the innermost, tender leaves and the top part of the peeled stem.

Learn just how delicious and versatile artichokes can be with our collection of recipes, including appetizers, side dishes, and mains.