Artichokes...what to do?

[LittleWhiteWolf]

Abel&Cole delivered yesterday and included two beautiful artichokes for me. I have read about how to eat them (dipping the leaves in sauce, scraping the flesh off, eventually getting past the choke to the heart etc) but I'm really intimidated by what to do with them. Someone at work said steam them, then either make a Hollandaise or garlic sauce...

What does mumsnet suggest? Any ideas? I also have no idea how long to cook them for! Help an artichoke virgin, please!

The simplest way it to boil or steam them for 10-20 mins, depending on the size.

When eating them, don't eat the very outer leaves. They will be very tough.

Take a leaf and dip the fleshy part into your chosen sauce. I actually like them simply with melted butter, but hollandaise or garlic sauce would be nice too.

Put the leaf between your teeth and use them to scrape off the fleshy part. It will come off easily, leaving the main part of the leaf in tact. This can now be discarded.

Continue eating the leaves until you get to the hairy bit in the middle.
Remove and discard the hair. You cannot eat it.

Within this is the heart.
This can be sliced and eaten with the same sauce as the leaves.

Once you get into it, you will understand what I mean.
Enjoy!

When you boil them - throw a lemon, cut in half, in the water. Also, put a plate or something over the top of the artichokes to keep them submerged.

my mum used to dip them in creme fraiche with a little bit of vinegar in it, yummy :)

Thanks everyone. I think DH and I will try these sometime this weekend when DD is in bed. I think at 19 months she's just a little too small to understand not eating the whole leaf!

Melted butter with lemon juice in it is perfect as a dip. Wouldn't bother with Hollandaise. Olive oil and balsamic is a healthier alternative.

Boil the artichoke, takes longer than you think (15 mins usually), it's done when the leaves pull out easily.