Samin Nosrat’s Grilled Artichokes

artichoke preparation illustration

Recall the miraculous way heat transforms the flavors of wood into the extraordinary flavors of smoke and you’ll intuit why any vegetable will be improved by time spent on the grill. But only a handful of them can be properly grilled from a raw state. Think of grilling as a finishing touch for most starchy or dense vegetables, such as these artichokes, fennel wedges, or baby potatoes. Treat them right, by parcooking them on the stove or in the oven until they are tender, then skewer and grill them for a dose of smoky aroma.

Illustration by Wendy MacNaughton

Print

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artichoke preparation illustration

Samin Nosrat’s Grilled Artichokes

Artichokes are great for the grill but be sure to parcook them on the stove or in the oven until they are tender, then skewer and grill them for a dose of smoky aroma.

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 artichokes (or 18 baby artichokes)
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • Salt

Instructions

  1. Set a large pot of water on to boil over high heat. Build a charcoal fire, or preheat a gas grill. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Remove the tough, dark outer leaves from the artichokes until the remaining leaves are half yellow, half light green. Cut away the woodiest part of the stem end and the top 1½ inches of every artichoke. If there are any purple inner leaves, cut them out, too. You may need to remove more in order to cut away everything fibrous. It might seem like you’re trimming a lot, but remove more than you think you should, because the last thing you want is to bite into a fibrous or bitter bite at the table. Use a sharp paring knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer peel on the stem and at the base of the heart, until you reach the pale yellow inner layers. As you clean them, place the artichokes in a bowl of water with the vinegar, which will help keep them from oxidizing, which makes them turn brown.
  3. Cut the artichokes in half. Use a teaspoon to carefully scoop out the choke, or fuzzy center, then return the artichokes to the acidulated water.
  4. Once the water has come to a boil, season it generously until it’s as salty as the sea. Place the artichokes in the water and reduce the heat so the water stays at a rapid simmer. Cook the artichokes until they are just tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 5 minutes for baby artichokes and 14 minutes for large artichokes. Use a spider or strainer to carefully remove them from the water, and place them on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
  5. Drizzle the artichokes lightly with olive oil and season with salt. Place the artichokes cut-side down on the grill over medium-high heat. Don’t move them until they begin to brown, then rotate the skewers until the cut side is evenly brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Flip, browning the other side in the same way.
  6. Remove from the grill and drizzle with a mint salsa verde, if desired, or serve with aïoli or honey-mustard vinaigrette. Serve hot, or at room temperature.

Notes

Reprinted with permission from SALT FAT ACID HEAT by Samin Nosrat with illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton. © 2017 Published by Simon and Schuster

  • Author: Samin Nosrat
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: California

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4

Keywords: grilled artichokes

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
artichoke preparation illustration

Samin Nosrat’s Grilled Artichokes

Artichokes are great for the grill but be sure to parcook them on the stove or in the oven until they are tender, then skewer and grill them for a dose of smoky aroma.

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 artichokes (or 18 baby artichokes)
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • Salt

Instructions

Set a large pot of water on to boil over high heat. Build a charcoal fire, or preheat a gas grill. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Remove the tough, dark outer leaves from the artichokes until the remaining leaves are half yellow, half light green. Cut away the woodiest part of the stem end and the top 1½ inches of every artichoke. If there are any purple inner leaves, cut them out, too. You may need to remove more in order to cut away everything fibrous. It might seem like you’re trimming a lot, but remove more than you think you should, because the last thing you want is to bite into a fibrous or bitter bite at the table. Use a sharp paring knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the tough outer peel on the stem and at the base of the heart, until you reach the pale yellow inner layers. As you clean them, place the artichokes in a bowl of water with the vinegar, which will help keep them from oxidizing, which makes them turn brown.

Cut the artichokes in half. Use a teaspoon to carefully scoop out the choke, or fuzzy center, then return the artichokes to the acidulated water.

Once the water has come to a boil, season it generously until it’s as salty as the sea. Place the artichokes in the water and reduce the heat so the water stays at a rapid simmer. Cook the artichokes until they are just tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 5 minutes for baby artichokes and 14 minutes for large artichokes. Use a spider or strainer to carefully remove them from the water, and place them on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

Drizzle the artichokes lightly with olive oil and season with salt. Place the artichokes cut-side down on the grill over medium-high heat. Don’t move them until they begin to brown, then rotate the skewers until the cut side is evenly brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Flip, browning the other side in the same way.

Remove from the grill and drizzle with a mint salsa verde, if desired, or serve with aïoli or honey-mustard vinaigrette. Serve hot, or at room temperature.

Notes

Reprinted with permission from SALT FAT ACID HEAT by Samin Nosrat with illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton. © 2017 Published by Simon and Schuster

  • Author: Samin Nosrat
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Grill
  • Cuisine: California

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4

Keywords: grilled artichokes