Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes Recipe

Artichokes are a spiky, green plant that are a part of the thistle family. According to the Sustainable Food Center, the vegetable we know and love is actually the edible flower bud of a larger plant. Who knew?

Recipe developer Miriam Hahn of YouCare-Selfcare says that this veggie's interesting look makes it a great contender for any dinner party. She also says it is perfect for the Instant Pot. In fact, she describes the process as "so much quicker and literally foolproof. Once I tried them this way I never went back." Adding to the Instant Pot's long list of perks, Hahn loves that you can leave it unattended, and that it helps free up a burner if you are preparing a lot of things at once. If this sounds like the ideal appetizer to you, read on!

Before you can start making your perfect Instant Pot artichokes, you'll need to gather your ingredients. Luckily for you, there's only two for this recipe: 2 to 3 large artichokes, and 1 ½ cups of water. The artichokes should be washed before you begin. As far as cookware, you'll need an Instant Pot, a cutting board, a serrated knife, kitchen scissors, and some tongs if you have them (these aren't mandatory, but they will be helpful in removing the artichokes from the hot Instant Pot).

Now that you've gathered your ingredients, you will have to do some prepping of the artichoke. First, use your serrated knife to cut the stems mostly off of the bottom of the artichoke, leaving only about 1/4 of an inch. This will help them sit flat and not fall over while they are cooking. Next, you'll want to cut the top 1/2 inch to 1 inch off of the artichoke, leaving it with a flat top. Lastly, take your kitchen scissors and trim the spikes off all the leaves (this step is mainly for aesthetic reasons, so if you're feeling particularly lazy, feel free to omit it. However, it will leave you with a polished-looking finished product!).

Now that you've prepped your artichokes, it's time to take out that handy Instant Pot. In this step, you'll want to pour in the water and insert the wire rack that comes with the Instant Pot. The goal here is to have the water level somewhat under the artichokes so that it can come to a boil without touching them. Rather than boiling the artichokes, we want to steam them. Steaming helps avoid inundating them with water, leaving you with a more tender vegetable.

Once you've set up your Instant Pot, place the artichokes inside stem side up. If your artichokes are large, you may only be able to fit two at a time.

Next, put the Instant Pot lid on and turn the knob to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook button and set the time to 25 minutes. If you have small artichokes, they should only take about 15 to 20 minutes, so set the timer accordingly. 

Keep in mind that the Instant Pot takes 15 minutes to come to full pressure. This means that you will put the artichokes in, they will sit there for 15 minutes while the pot warms up, and then the timer will start counting down from 25 minutes. All this is to say, budget these extra 15 minutes of waiting time when preparing to serve your artichokes so you don't run late.

When the cook time has elapsed, do a quick release of the Instant Pot by turning the knob on the lid to Venting. Be careful to stand back while you do this, as the steam rushes out of the Instant Pot with quite a bit of force. 

Once you've released the lid, you can test the artichokes. Do this by inserting a knife in the bottom of the artichoke, near the stem. If it comes out easily, the artichokes are done. You can also check by pulling out a leaf. Similarly, if it comes out easily, they are done. 

Use the tongs to remove them from the Instant Pot.

Finally! Your Instant Pot artichokes are ready to serve. As far as serving suggestions, Hahn has plenty: "You can dip the leaves in butter, which is probably the most common, but also try a garlic aioli, ranch, blue cheese dressing, or vinaigrette." She says that these spiky plants make a great side, but can also be used as an engaging appetizer. Additionally, if you really get the urge, Hahn says you can even eat them as a snack! As a bonus, Hahn tells us, "They are surprisingly healthy for you too. They offer lots of nutrition and disease preventative properties."