Artichokes are a mysterious vegetable, and a lot of people are intimidated by them. How do you cook an artichoke? How do you cut into it? What parts do you eat? And how does it taste? You may have had marinated artichoke hearts that come in a jar, or you’ve noticed little strips of artichoke in your spinach dip. But eating a whole artichoke is a lot different than having prepared hearts. In this article, I’m going to show you how to prepare and eat an artichoke, along with my favorite dipping sauces. Are Artichokes Good For You? Coming in at 6g of net carbs per whole artichoke, it’s something you’ll want to add to the rotation if you’re keto. Artichokes are also an antioxidant powerhouse, and they have lots of gut-happy resistant starch. How to Buy Artichokes If you’ve never bought whole artichokes before, you might wonder how to choose good ones. Here’s what to look for: Tight leaves. Your artichoke should look like a giant flower bud. Leaves should not be curling out like a blooming flower. Heft. Pick up a few, and feel their weight. Heavier artichokes are fresher, and lighter ones are older and perhaps dried out. Brown streaks on the outside, or not. A little browning on the outside is nothing to be concerned about. Some people say that the ones with brown streaks are sweeter because the frost that caused them brings out the natural sugars. Once your artichokes are cleaned and steamed properly, the leaves and heart are excellent vehicles for dips. How to Cook an Artichoke (Steam Method) Serves: 2-4 Time in the kitchen: 45 minutes, including 35 minutes steaming time Ingredients 2 artichokes Primal Kitchen® Mayo with Avocado Oil, or Rosemary and Garlic Vegan Mayo if you cannot tolerate eggs 1 lemon Fresh cracked black pepper Directions To prepare an artichoke, first cut off most of the stem on top, leaving about ¼” of the stem left intact. Cut off the tough bottom of the artichoke, about 1” worth. Use kitchen scissors to trim the tough prickly ends of the artichoke leaves. Cut a lemon in half and rub the cut side all of the cut end of the artichoke. Set up a steamer by filling a pot with some water and a squeeze of lemon. Once the water is boiling, set the heat so the water is at a steady simmer. Set up the steamer basket inside and place the artichokes in the basket cut side down. Place the lid on and allow the artichokes to steam for around 30 minutes, 35 minutes if they’re quite large. You know they’re finished when you can put a knife through the center of the stem with little resistance. Allow the artichokes to cool. Combine your favorite Primal Kitchen Mayo with a squeeze of lemon and fresh cracked pepper. How to Eat an Artichoke This part is easy. Once your artichoke is cooled, peel the leaves off of one by one, dip in … Continue reading “How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke”
Read MoreCrispy on the outside, tender on the inside, coconut shrimp is a perfect appetizer or main event for any back patio supper.
Last-minute seafood cravings? No problem. This coconut shrimp recipe comes together in less time than it would take to pick up take out. It is prepared in the oven instead of the traditional pan-fry method, which creates a crunchy coating with hands-off cook time and easy cleanup.
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Read MoreCrab cakes may remind you of cocktail parties, weddings, or sun-soaked getaways to the seashore where you seek refuge from the sun at a fish shack that serves only the freshest local seafood. Most traditional crab cake recipes include breadcrumbs or flour (or both) and are deep fried in vegetable oil so the end result is a greasy, bready puck that disrespects the naturally sweet, succulent essence of lump crabmeat. We remade the classic crab cake to make it Primal and keto-friendly. Don’t be put off by the long list of ingredients; we like the way the vegetables and seasonings accentuate the crab, but if you prefer a pared-down version, the crab, almond flour, herbs, mayo, egg, lemon juice, salt and pepper would make a perfectly lovely crab cake, too.
Read MoreThe best appetizers should be a surprising, satisfying confluence of flavor and texture—in a single mouthful. Yes, it’s a bit of a tall order, isn’t it? Nevertheless, we think the salty, crisp bite of these bacon-wrapped water chestnuts deliver exactly that. Did we mention the sweet-savory tang of teriyaki is there, too?
But maybe we had you at the word bacon….
Read MoreCan a party spread ever have enough bacon-wrapped delicacies? We didn’t think so….
While many bacon appetizers go full-on savory, we like the natural sweetness of this one. The contrasts of tastes is enough to inspire, but this one’s a symphony of texture, too. The softness of date with the cream of blue cheese and crunch of pecan all wrapped in chewy bacon can feel like a full meal in one mouthful. All is right with the world in that moment.
Read MoreSome classic appetizer recipes are already good Primal fare. Take baked brie…. This recipe elevates traditional cheese and crackers to more ancestral, not to mention artistic levels. Tart cranberry compote complements a creamy and decadent brie cheese here and is perfect on a crisp but hearty grain-free cracker. Serve with good wine and zero apologies.
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