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I first enjoyed grilled artichokes at Houston's Restaurant in Bethesda, MD. They were so delicious and certainly a healthier version from my childhood favorite that was stuffed with hollandaise sauce.
Growing up with a chef-mother was always interesting. It wasn't unusual to be served Beef Wellington on a Tuesday or lift a pot lid on duck l'orange in-the-making on a Saturday afternoon. Then there was that scratch-made custard. All yummy. When I was a kid, artichokes were a regular staple at Springtime supper.
Grilled artichokes require some extra preparation, as a result, I only make these on holidays or weekends. Artichokes are not difficult to prepare or grill, and they are always a big hit.
You can serve grilled artichokes with dipping sauce or you can marinate them in the dipping sauce for a couple of hours before you put them on the grill. I experiment with this recipe all the time. The most important tip is to avoid burning them. I use the "ConvEGGtor" on our "Green Egg" so that the artichokes don't ignite when I place them on the grill. I like a little bit of charcoal, but not too much. Too much charcoal is not good for your health.
How to Make Grilled Artichokes
- Get started by snipping off the sharp leaf edges of the outside of the choke (see top photo, you do this so that you won't get cut when you eat the meat from the leaves).
- Optional: Cut a straight edge across the top of the choke to make it look neater.
- Boil a large pot of water and drop the whole artichoke into the water.
- Allow boiling for 20-30 minutes (less time for smaller artichokes, more time for larger).
- Remove the artichokes from the water and place into a bowl of ice water.
- When cool, cut the artichoke in half (image just above) and remove the "choke."
- For the vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a glass bowl.
- Whisk until emulsified.
- Provide as a dipping sauce for artichokes after grilling.
Grilling the Artichokes
- Rinse and dry the de-choked half-artichokes.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of olive oil and salt and pepper, both front and back.
- Place on the grill just long enough to get "grill marks" and a little bit of smokey flavor on both sides.
- Serve warm with our Thai Honey Vinaigrette as a dipping sauce or try our Honey Lemon Vinaigrette if you prefer.
