Artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus · Vegetable
Top 10 pairings
Artichokes are giant thistle buds, cut before they bloom. You eat each leaf's fleshy base and the nutty heart under the inedible choke. Bitter-green and faintly sweet, they make the next sip of water taste sweet.
Picking a good onedrag
Tight, squeaky, just cutSplayed, dry, hollow-stemmed
Shop firmEveryday bestSteam or boil whole for dipping; braise in oil.
BractsJust parting at the tips, matte
The squeezeFirm, no squeak, still weighty
Cut stemCut face dry but solid, pale
Smell at the cutClean, but almost nothing
What you get from one
40%
Edible part
128 g · stem, outer bracts and choke off
320 g
Weight each
each one
Keeping ittap a temperature
A domestic fridge holds it about 4× longer than the counter.
95-100%
Humidity
Damp, not sealed
Airflow