Sweet Spicy Oven Roasted Artichokes
Fresh artichokes are cleaned, trimmed, de-choked, and slathered with a tastebud tantalizing, Honey Orange Chili Sauce and oven roasted into these Sweet Spicy Oven Roasted Artichokes your friends and family are sure to love!
When I was in college, I used to love those artichoke hearts in glass jars. Sometimes, I enjoyed them in salads and other times, I enjoyed them by the spoonful right from the jar. Back then, I don’t even recall thinking about learning to prepare fresh artichokes.
In more recent times however, having walked by fresh artichokes one too many times, my curiosity got the better of me. On a recent trip to Sprouts I brought home a big bag of globe artichokes. With the help of my friends, Google and Youtube, I spent a lot of time trying to learn how to prepare fresh artichokes. And, when I finally did, I understood what all those artichoke lovers had been going on about!
Artichokes are not for those nights I want a quick, easy, and filling meal. Artichokes take time to clean, prep and cook, but the result can make for a tasty, fun, conversation-sparking, appetizer.
I cleaned, prepped and made those artichokes I brought home into these Sweet Spicy Oven Roasted Artichokes you see here.
While you can find artichokes year round, their peak season is March through May. The artichokes you enjoy are actually a flower that has not bloomed. If allowed to flower, the “choke” sprouts into a large, thistle-like flower that is a gorgeous shade of violet-blue.
One artichoke plant can produce more than 20 artichokes per year. Artichokes are harvested by hand; and, because artichokes on the same plant mature at different times, the same field might be harvested seven days during peak season – talk about labor intensive eh?!
How To Prepare Artichokes?
When preparing artichokes, make sure to cut off the thorn at the end of each leaf, using kitchen shears. Pull off the small lower leaves, then trim the cut end of the stem. Cut off the top third and make sure the thorns are removed from the remaining leaves. While cutting, make sure to keep rubbing with lime/lemon to keep the artichoke from browning. Now you’re ready to boil, steam or roast your artichoke.
How To Eat Artichokes?
Peel each leaf off the cooked artichoke and dip it into a sauce of your choice. Pull the petal through your teeth to remove the soft, “meaty” portion at the end and discard the rest. After you have peeled off all the petals, you will get down to the heart of the artichoke. When you get down to the heart, make sure to spoon out the fuzzy choke. You can cut the remaining artichoke heart into smaller pieces, dip them into a sauce and enjoy.
Why Eat Artichokes?
Artichokes are just plain fun to eat. And, their unique, nutty flavor can be enhanced when prepared like these Sweet Spicy Oven Roasted Artichokes were. By the way, have you heard of “frost-kissed” artichokes? While I have yet to try them, these slightly browned artichokes are said to have a deeper nuttier flavor than their greener counterparts.
Also, artichokes come with a plethora of health benefits and they are just plain fun to eat. One medium sized artichoke is a good source of vitamin C, folate and potassium and it’s low in sodium and fat-free!
Ingredients
- • 4 fresh artichokes from Sprouts
- • ¼ cup honey
- • ¼ cup orange juice
- • 2 cloves garlic
- • ½ tsp chili powder
- • 1 tbsp olive oil
- • ¼ tsp salt
- • ¼ tsp pepper
- • 1-2 limes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
- Into a small saucepan over medium heat, add in the honey, orange juice and chili powder and bring to a simmer.
- Grate garlic cloves into the sauce. Let simmer for about 5-10 minutes so I is reduced a bit and thicker. Add in the salt and pepper and set sauce aside.
- Rinse artichokes and trim any small leaves around the stem.
- Cut off the stem of the artichoke.
- Trim off the top of the artichoke as well. Cut one of the limes in half and rub the cut parts of the artichoke, squeezing some of the lime juice into the center of the artichoke so it doesn’t brown.
- Using a kitchen scissors, trim the spiny leaves off the artichokes so they don’t hurt you when you are eating them. Rub cut leaves with lime.
- Cut the artichoke in half
- Then, using a spoon, scoop a little under the hairy bit, aka the choke, of the artichoke and gently make sure to get all the “hair” out along with the leaves that are attached to it (sometimes these leaves are purple.
- When artichoke is clean, brush generously with the Honey Orange Chili Sauce and place cut side down on a baking tray. After all the artichokes are ready, place tray in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
- Then, pop tray out carefully, cover with aluminum foil so artichokes don’t burn, and bake another 40-45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and when safe to handle, serve oven roasted artichokes with any leftover Honey Orange Chili Sauce and enjoy!
Nutrition
wow This looks amazingly delicious! And thanks for taking time to make those step-by-step pictures because I have never prepared artichokes before and they definitely HELP!
I have never tried roasting artichokes before, but this looks so simple. Definitely going to give it a try.
I’m so glad you made a process photo collage. I pinned it. I’ve never fixed artichokes. I always buy them in a jar or can. I think I’ll finally try to make some!
Thanks for sharing these tips on preparing artichokes. These look fabulous and I can’t wait to try this.
Artichokes are one vegetable that my kids will eat with no fight. They’re so good and I can’t wait to try this sauce.
Me and my family live artichokes and this is just fabulous!! Very well explained Recipe. Can’t wait to try it!
Cool recipe! I love roasting veggies, but haven’t thought about roasting artichokes for some reason. Definitely will be trying this – thanks!
Oh, girl, I would love to try these so bad! We don’t get super fresh artichokes like that around here (living on an island). And roasting anything gives such a wonderful flavour! Send me some, will ya 😉 Hope your week is going great! XOXO
National Artichoke Heart Day!? Awesome! So I don’t see fresh artichokes up here too often, but I’ll have to keep a special eye out since we’re coming into the right season. I’ve only played with fresh ‘chokes one time, and that was to create my own version of marinated artichokes. Man, those were tasty! I’ve never roasted fresh artichokes before, so I totally want to try this idea out. I’m keeping this post in mind for when I stumble across ‘chokes in the store! Great post, my friend.
Shashi! Artichokes are my all-time favorite food so I feel like you created this recipe just for me! But I’ve never tried them roasted. They sound incredible and I must try them soon! Have a great weekend, my dear!
Thanks Shashi. I enjoyed reading about artichokes and how to properly prepare them. I have to admit that they are remarkably difficult to get here in the shops in their fresh form. You can get them in those glass jars you mention though. If I ever see them here in fresh form I’ll certainly be picking them up to give your recipe a try. It looks delicious!