Pan Roasted Artichokes

Pan roasted artichokes are one of many ways to enjoy this unique and wonderful vegetable. This recipe is quick and easy to make, and artichokes are nutritional power houses that are readily available in most grocery stores all year round. If you have not tried this vegetable before, there are many ways to do so. One of the easiest ways just to taste artichokes is to buy them pre-cooked, and in a jar. Often the jar is a marinate of oil, lemon, salt and possibly other spices. This method of preserving the artichokes makes them perfect to put on salads. This way, you can also use the marinate in the salad, and so use up every bit of the jar. Or, you can try to cook the artichokes yourself, which is a bit more difficult. The web site, Cooking with Nonna, where this recipe can be found, gives great instructions on how to clean and prepare and then cook the artichokes. This recipe calls for baby artichokes, which will probably be more tender than more mature varieties (but either will do).

This recipe also includes some other really good foods such as garlic. As a member of the Allium family, garlic contain alliinase, an important anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. People have known for centuries that garlic seemed to have plenty of good effects, but why garlic is so good for us has only recently been realized. Historically, garlic was thought to ward off evil, and protect against vampires. Garlic was said to cure all manner of throat illnesses from sore throats to flus and colds (it does). Allium comes from the Greek word, meaning, �to avoid�; this is an apt name for garlic, because its smell causes other things to avoid it. Garlic is also said to ward off the Evil Eye. Dreaming about garlic is said to bring good luck, and to dream about eating garlic means you will discover hidden secrets (at least, that is the lore). In any event, garlic is good for you. For maximum impact of the compounds in garlic, let the garlic sit after chop or mince it, and before you heat it or add lemon juice or other ingredients to it.

An artichoke is actually the unopened flower bud of the plant, well, you guessed it, the artichoke. Artichokes are extremely low in calories as well as fats, and they also are a rich source of dietary fiber and anti-oxidants. So this vegetable is action packed. Artichokes are loaded with vitamins including vitamin C, E, and K, as well as minerals including calcium and copper, and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. The B-complex vitamins are also found in artichokes. So, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy artichokes, especially when prepared, as here, with both garlic and parsley. Bookmark this page and enjoy this recipe soon, won't you? Find out how to make this recipe and many others just like it at the website, Cooking with Nonna.