How to Prepare Artichokes for Stuffing

Are you like me?

I love artichokes whichever way they are prepared. But they have to be fresh artichokes, because they are no way near the watered down, brined, canned ones. It is unfortunate that we don’t always get fresh artichokes here, because I love this vegetable, love preparing it and then really enjoy eating it too. Well if you do get your hands on fresh artichokes, don’t be intimidated by the look of it, it is not hard to prepare at all. However, using fresh ones will make all the difference to the flavour and texture of your food.

Watch Michelin Chef Oliver Glowig, prepare his artichokes creating little cups for stuffing. These prepared artichokes can then be filled with any of your desired fillings and served as an appetiser, or as part of a salad. Bigger ones can be prepared the same way, and they can be filled and cooked, served as a side dish or the main meal. There is really no limit to what you can do with artichokes and no limit to how much everyone will love them, once made using fresh ones.

You can fill artichokes with almost anything.

My absolute favourite way to savour artichokes is when they are steamed and served whole to dip in butter lemon. The original french way! It really is perfect food with nothing else needed at all. An absolute sundowner snack like no other.

However, if you are looking for variations check these options:

For a cold appetiser, try a cheese and nuts filling such as: feta and pistachios, cream cheese and almonds, blue cheese and pecans… also try filling them with labneh and zaatar or a mixture of labneh, grated parmesan and basil… You can use artichokes as cups to fill with salad. Think dressed corn salad, chopped palmitos and mushrooms, even a tomato salsa will work.
For main course filled artichokes, go for the bigger artichokes and fill them with a basic rice and minced meat stuffing and cook them in tomato sauce, or a classic minced meat and pine nuts stuffing. You can stuff them with minced meat, top them with grated mozzarella and a layer of breadcrumbs then bake them along with tomato sauce… really the sky is the limit!

You can also follow Chef Oliver’s recipe on this link for stuffing the artichokes: Lobster Carpaccio Over Stuffed Artichokes

Oliver Glowig

Chef Oliver is a 2 star Michelin Chef, who started his journey alongside his father in Germany. Those early days were marked by his food curiosity and took on an adventurous style. This journey soon took on a passion for artistic experimentation.

The art of Chef Oliver is embodied in a journey of flavors and emotions that guide his path. He left Germany in 2001, a year after he earned his first Michelin star restaurant “Watercolor” in Monaco of Bavaria. Headed to the Amalfi Coast, in Italy, where he is the Executive Chef of the restaurant “L’Olivo”. In 2004, he confirmed the star he’d earned in Germany, and in 2006, he was recognised with a second Michelin star and 17/20 L’Espresso.

“With two Michelin stars, preceded by a score of 17/20 on the Guide de L’Espresso, the restaurant of Oliver Glowing ranks among the top Italian restaurants.”