Mastering the Art of Preparing Artichokes with Mamma Giuliana
Discover how to trim and clean artichokes effortlessly with Mamma Giuliana’s expert guidance. Follow these steps to prepare artichokes perfectly for any dish!
Artichokes are a springtime delight in Rome, featured in numerous Italian recipes. Whether you’re making alla romana (stuffed with wild mint, parsley, and garlic) or alla giudia (deep-fried until crispy), knowing how to clean and trim artichokes is essential. They can also be added to pasta, fried like tempura, or sliced thinly and served raw with parmesan.
Watch the Video
See Mamma Giuliana demonstrate how to clean and prepare artichokes.
Preparing Your Artichokes
However you plan to use your artichokes, the first step is to clean and prepare them. This means removing the hard outer leaves and exterior so you are left with the tender, delicious hearts and stems (the stems are edible and many Romans profess they are the best, most flavorful part!). Mamma Giuliana takes you through the procedure, explaining how to trim the artichokes in the quickest, easiest way.
You Will Need
- Bowl of cold water
- A couple of lemons
- Small sharp knife
- Gloves (to prevent your hands from turning black)
Instructions
- Prepare the Lemon Water: Cut a lemon into quarters. Squeeze the juice of two quarters into the bowl of cold water and place the squeezed pieces into the water. This lemony water prevents the peeled artichokes from turning black due to oxidization.
- Trim the Stem: Leave about 6cm (2.4 inches) of length on the stem. Use your hands to rip off the hard, prickly outer leaves until you reach the layer of pale, yellow, tender leaves beneath.
- Cut the Top: Use a sharp knife to cut the top of the artichoke at an angle all the way around, then slice horizontally across the top.
- Peel the Base and Stem: Use the knife to peel the hard area around the base of the stem and remove the stringy, tough surface of the stem itself. Remove any other green, hard areas around the base. The artichoke should now look like a pretty rose.
- Lemon Rub: Rub the artichoke all over with one of the remaining lemon quarters to prevent it from oxidizing further.
- Soak in Lemon Water: Put the prepared artichoke into the bowl of lemony water while you prepare the rest, and until they are ready to be cooked.
Now your artichokes are ready to be used in your favorite recipes!
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