Dinner Tonight: Steamed Artichokes with Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Name: Dinner Tonight: Steamed Artichokes with Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 2 large artichokes; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons water; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon shallot, minced; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 clove garlic, minced; Salt and pepper

Closeup of two globe artichokes on a wooden surface. — Serious Eats / Nick Kindelsperger

I was quite the picky eater in my youth. I didn’t touch green beans, wouldn’t go near cooked carrots, and never had a salad I liked until junior high. But against all reason and logic, I did love artichokes. From the moment I started eating artichokes, I remember actually enjoying them. Perhaps it’s the activity of picking up off the petals, dipping them in butter, and pulling off the “meat” of the vegetable with my teeth. What fun food to eat!

The steaming business is pretty basic, but I wanted to see if there was anything besides my beloved butter to dip the petals in. I found this watered down vinaigrette in Cooks Illustrated. I personally thought the vinaigrette was a little fussy and preferred the comfort of the melted butter, but the fiancée completely disagreed and preferred the balance of the vinaigrette. It was nice to have a choice. Martha Stewart, in her New Classics Cookbook, suggests dipping the petals in an aioli. Am I missing other good options?

April 2008

Dinner Tonight: Steamed Artichokes with Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Cook 55 mins

Total 55 mins

Keep Screen Awake

2 artichoke, medium artichokes
1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Vinaigrette:

3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon shallot, minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 clove garlic, minced
Salt and pepper

Bring a large pot of water to boil. With a large knife, cut off the top quarter of the artichokes and then remove the stem. Sprinkle the 1/4 teaspoon of salt on top of the them and then place them in a steamer basket over the boiling water. Cook for 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the vinaigrette and whisk until fully combined.
Remove the artichokes from the steamer basket and serve with the vinaigrette as a dipping sauce.

Artichoke

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
460	Calories
28g	Fat
49g	Carbs
11g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories	460
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g	36%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1479mg	64%
Total Carbohydrate 49g	18%
Dietary Fiber 21g	75%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 27mg	137%
Calcium 94mg	7%
Iron 3mg	15%
Potassium 1090mg	23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.