Conquering a Fear of Artichokes + Braised Artichokes with Lemon, Garlic & Parsley

It might sound quite strange to fear a vegetable, but for the longest time I hesitated when cooking with artichokes.  I loved their taste, but would reserve their goodness either steamed, stuffed, marinated or fried when I went out to eat.  But alas, one day they looked so delicious at the market that I decided to just go for it and what I realized is that I had a fear that was pretty unreasonable.  All you really have to do is using serrated knife, cut off the tops, remove the tough outer leaves and scoop out the fuzzy interior, also known as the 'choke'.  Once you do that the options are limitless.  For this recipe, I wanted something healthy, so I decided to go with the braising option inspired by Gourmande in the Kitchen, where the artichokes are cooked in the oven with lemon, garlic and parsley. They are so good, perfect for a side dish or a snack.  

A side note, artichokes are so good for you.  They are loaded with vitamins and minerals including a range of B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and folic acid.  They are thought to lower blood pressure, reduce heart disease and help with digestive problems, so eat up!

BRAISED ARTICHOKES WITH LEMON, GARLIC & PARSLEY

4 large artichokes, halved with chokes removed

1 lemon

1 bunch parsley

3 garlic cloves, diced

Styling & Photography by Alison