04/06/2026
New from Amary Farm this week: Globe Artichokes
So how do you eat them?
Steaming or boiling whole is the easiest and most classic way to cook and eat a fresh globe artichoke. Because it is a large, edible thistle, eating it is a unique, hands-on process of scraping the flesh off the petals with your teeth until you reach the highly prized heart at the centre.
How to Prep a Whole Artichoke
•Rinse under cold running water, pulling the petals open slightly to flush out any trapped grit.
•Use a heavy serrated knife to slice about 2.5cm (1 inch) off the pointed top of the artichoke globe.
•Use kitchen scissors to snip off the sharp, thorny tips of the remaining outer petals.
•Artichokes oxidise and turn brown instantly when cut. Rub all cut edges immediately with a fresh lemon wedge to keep them green.
How to Cook It (The Steaming Method)
•Place a steaming basket inside a large pot with a few centimetres of water.
•Toss a slice of lemon, a peeled garlic clove, and a bay leaf into the water for aromatics.
•Stand the artichoke upright (or stem-side up) in the basket, cover with a tight lid, and bring to a boil.
•Steam on medium-low heat for 30 to 45 minutes.
•Test for doneness: Insert a knife into the base stem. If it slides in easily like a baked potato, and an outer leaf pulls off with zero resistance, it is ready.
How to Eat It
•Pull off the outer petals one by one. Dip the soft, pale, fleshy bottom end into your sauce. Put that end in your mouth, bite down lightly, and pull the leaf through your teeth to scrape off the delicious, tender pulp. Discard the rest of the tough petal. Keep working your way inward.
•As you get to the centre, the leaves will become thin and purple-tipped. Pull this entire cone of cone-shaped leaves off.
•You will now see a fuzzy, hairy crater. This is the "choke," and it is completely inedible. Use a spoon to gently scrape all the fuzz away and throw it out.
•Underneath the fuzz is a clean, solid cup of green-grey flesh. This is the artichoke heart. Cut it into pieces, dunk it in your sauce, and eat the whole thing.