National Artichoke Hearts Day
Here are ChopChop, we celebrate healthy and delicious food everyday. We love when there’s even more reason to celebrate, with a wacky, fun food holiday. March has many food holidays. We’ll be celebrating all month long and giving you ideas on ways to celebrate with us and, of course, some recipes to try with your family!
March 16 is National Artichoke Hearts Day. Have you ever cooked an artichoke before? They can look pretty intimidating, but it’s easier than you think! Artichokes are actually in the prickly family of plants called thistles, which might explain why they look so crazy—covered in spiky leaves, like a cross between a vegetable and a dinosaur. But they’re also crazy good for you: full of stuff your body needs, like minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage.
You’ll need to cook your artichoke first, and then you’ll want to eat just the wide ends of the leaves and the bottom, also known as the “heart.” Here’s how:
HANDS-ON TIME: 10 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 1 HOUR
MAKES: 1 ARTICHOKE PER PERSON
KITCHEN GEAR:
Large pot with lid
Sharp knife (adult needed)
Cutting board
Clean scissors
Colander
INGREDIENTS
1 Artichoke per person
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, with a squeeze of lemon or your favorite salad dressing
INSTRUCTIONS
Wash your hands with soap and water, then gather all your kitchen gear and ingredients and put them on a clean counter.
1. Fill the pot halfway with water and put it on the stove. Put the lid on and turn the heat to high.
2. Use the knife to saw off an inch or so at the tip of each artichoke and all but an inch or so of its stem (this is really a job for an adult). Use the scissors to snip any remaining pointy tips off each of the outer leaves, so you won’t poke yourself when you eat them.
3. When the water is boiling, carefully put the artichokes in, cover the pot, and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook the artichokes at a gentle boil until a leaf pulls out easily when you tug it, about 30 to 45 minutes depending on how big the artichoke is.
4. Drain the artichokes upside down in a colander for 10 minutes so they won’t be too hot to eat. Serve right away with the melted butter or salad dressing.
EAT IT
Starting with the outside leaves, pull off one leaf at a time, then dip the pale bottom of the leaf in melted butter or salad dressing, and scrape the meaty part off the inside of the leaf with your bottom teeth. You’ll throw away the rest of the leaf, but you can put it in a bowl for now. Do this with all the leaves until you get to the hairy part of the artichoke (known as the “choke”), then use a spoon to scoop out and throw away the fuzzy choke. Cut up the heart and eat it. It’s the best part!