4 Answers

WARNING... WARNING ... I love artichokes and we have them a couple of times a month when they're in season.

You have to wash them REALLY carefully because sometimes WORMS live in those leaves. Ugh. Trim off the sharp points and then leaf through all the leaves. You just don't want to bite into a worm when you are entertaining guests.  I did that and caused quite a scene.  My husband is still mad about that ... happened years ago.

p.s. I am not advocating biting into a worm when you're not entertaining guests. Oh, you know ...

I think boiling or steaming until very hot is good. Mix up some butter, salt, garlic or margarine instead of butter, and pull a leaf off of the artichoke and dip some of the butter mixture onto the leaf and then put the leaf in between your teeth and pull the leaf out while scraping the soft part of the leaf off with your teeth. Not much food, but it tastes good. Yum.

There are two vegetables called artichokes. One is prepared as described above, that is the globe artichoke. The other is the Jerusalem artichoke which looks like a deformed potato. this you wash and scrape then boil, or you can slice thinly and stir-fry.

I've never heard of Jerusalem artichokes. I like stir fry. Do they taste or have texture anything like water chestnuts or bamboo shoots? I like both of them.