What Goes Well With Artichokes?

What goes well with artichokes? Learn the best ingredient pairings, meal ideas, popular flavor combinations, and other helpful tips.

What Are Artichokes?

Artichokes are part of the sunflower plant family (also called Aster or Composite) along with chicory, dandelion, endive, Jerusalem artichoke, salsify, and sunflower.

They’re a teardrop-shaped, green pinecone-looking vegetable with overlapping leaves that are tough and inedible at the top but have edible flesh at the base that’s sweet and tender.

Helpful Tips

When to Buy

The peak season for artichokes is from spring through autumn. Check out the seasonal produce guide to see what else is in season right now.

What to Look For

Choose artichokes that are compact and heavy for their size. Their outer leaves should be thick, firm, and tightly closed.

Avoid artichokes whose leaves have begun to open up and spread apart, or have blackened or wilted leaves.

Storage

Artichokes are best when they’re super fresh. If you can’t cook them right away, place them in a plastic or silicone resealable bag and sprinkle with a few drops of water, and seal.

Store in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for no more than 5 days.

How to Trim

1. Pull off any tough leaves near the stem and discard and trim off the bottom of the stem.
2. Cut about 1/2 inch off the top of the artichoke. You can also trim off the tip leaves since they’re a little prickly (but you don’t have to – they will soften when cooked).

How to Prepare

Artichokes can be baked, boiled, braised, broiled, deep-fried, grilled, roasted, sautéed, steamed, or stewed. The hearts and base leaves can be eaten raw but cooking helps reduce their bitterness.

No Fresh Artichokes?

You can also buy marinated artichoke hearts in a jar or (plain) canned artichoke hearts in water.

What Ingredients Go Well With Artichokes?

Vegetables

Arugula, beets, bell peppers, carrots, celery, garlic, leeks, mushrooms, onions (sweet and yellow), potatoes, radicchio, shallots, and spinach.

Fruit

Grapefruit, lemons, oranges, and tomatoes.

Spices

Black truffles, coriander, pepper (black or white), red pepper flakes, saffron, and salt (especially kosher).

Herbs

Basil, bay leaf, chervil (also called French parsley), chives, coriander, mint, parsley (flat-leaf), rosemary, sage, tarragon (esp. fresh), and thyme (esp. fresh).

Nuts & Seeds

Cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts.

Non-Dairy/Dairy

Butter (Miyoko’s brand is great), parmesan – Violife is a decent dairy-free option, cashew cream, and yogurt.

Proteins

Anchovies, bacon, chicken, eggs, ham, pancetta, prosciutto, shellfish (crab, lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops, clams, shrimp), and tuna.

Pantry Items

Aioli, bread crumbs, broth (homemade chicken broth is best), capers, cane sugar (minuscule amount), dijon mustard, farro, fava beans, mayonnaise (egg-free recipe here), olive oil, olives (esp black & Nicoise), pasta, pesto, piquillo peppers, rice, soy sauce (tamari or coconut aminos for soy-free option), tapenade, vinaigrette, vinegar (balsamic, rice, sherry, white wine), and wine: dry sherry or white wine.

Popular Artichoke Pairings

• butter + garlic + lemon + parsley
• cream + parmesan + thyme
• garlic + lemon
• lemon + garlic + mint
• olive oil + garlic + lemon + thyme
• garlic + mint
• lemon + mint + yogurt
• lemon + onions
• mushroom + onions + sausage
• garlic + sage

What to Make With Artichokes

Artichokes are a common ingredient in French, Italian, Mediterranean, Moroccan, and Spanish cuisines and are often used in dips, pasta, salads, soups, or appetizers.

Try one of these recipes or ideas as a starting point:

• steamed whole artichokes with either lemon aioli or (dairy-free) melted garlic butter
• dairy-free spinach artichoke dip
• dairy-free risotto with olive oil, garlic, shallots, marinated artichoke hearts, fresh lemon juice, bacon (or capers), topped with bread crumbs for added texture (optional)
• pasta with pesto sauce, artichoke hearts, and topped with parmesan
• a cold pasta dish with a simple vinaigrette, toasted hazelnuts, roasted carrots, marinated artichoke hearts, and fresh basil or parsley

More Flavor Pairing Guides

• Tomatoes
• Leeks
• Zucchini