Appetizers ensure meals, gatherings and parties go off with a bang. If you’ve got a house full of people, or you’re keen to make sure you have time to socialize, it’s hugely beneficial to find some simple, delicious appetizers you can rustle up in advance to impress your guests and get your evening or lunch party off to a flying start. If you love to entertain, or you’re always on the lookout for ideas and inspiration for family feasts or social occasions, here’s an awesome new appetizer to add your recipe collection.

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Roasted Artichoke

Artichokes are not the most frequently-used vegetable, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be a part of your repertoire. Artichokes are delicious, and once you get the hang of preparing and cooking them, it’s easy to turn this humble vegetable into a crowd-pleasing dish your family and friends will love. This roasted artichoke dish is ideal for small gatherings, family nights in and dinner parties, and it will go down a treat!

Instructions

The first step is to learn how to roast artichoke. Once you’ve purchased your artichokes from the store, you’ll need to prepare them to go into the oven. Take your artichokes and cut the stems, peeling away the tough outer layers until you reach the lighter-colored flesh of the vegetable. Carefully trim the sharp edges of the leaves, removing roughly ¾ of an inch of the tip. Cut your artichoke in half lengthways and use a paring knife to take out the choke.

When your artichokes are ready to roast, place them in foil and add a drizzle of olive oil and a crushed garlic clove. Close the foil parcel and place it inside the oven for approximately 40 minutes. 

How To Serve

There are endless options when it comes to serving roasted artichoke. You can leave the artichoke as it is, using the cooking juices with a splash of lemon juice, salt and pepper, some dill and a teaspoon of honey added to create a vibrant vinaigrette dip. Alternatively, you can add additional ingredients, such as crumbled feta cheese or capers, to enhance the Mediterranean flavors. To enjoy roasted artichoke, you’ll need to allow time for the leaves and petals to cool, so that you can gently peel off the leaves with your fingers and discard the inedible part of the petal. Add to a platter with the vinaigrette dip or serve as a delicious pre-dinner morsel if you’re hosting friends. 

Tips for Buying Artichokes

When you’re buying artichokes, it’s best to shop in season. The optimum time for cooking with artichokes is between March and May and October and November. Spend a little time perusing the produce aisles and look for artichokes that are heavy and large with tightly-packed dark leaves. Gently press the artichoke in your hands. A fresh artichoke should make a subtle squeaking noise. 

Are you planning to get friends or family together, or are you searching for a simple, nutritious, delicious appetizer for a special occasion or a leisurely weekend lunch? If so, why not give this recipe a try?

Thank you for reading!