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Castroville, California’s Artichoke Queen of 1947 was none other than Marilyn Monroe. Artichokes and hot women have shared a bond ever since the artichoke’s Latin namesake, the goddess Cynara, was turned into a prickly green plant for resisting Jupiter’s advances. This perennial thistle is considered an aphrodisiac, so grab some from your local market and let your artichoke love blossom.
The California artichoke season starts in late March and peaks in mid-May, where it’s celebrated at the Castroville Artichoke Festival: http://www.artichoke-festival.org/. In your local market look for firm, tightly closed artichokes that feel heavy for their size and squeak when squeezed.
But what to do with these curious buds? To serve whole, trim the top and the stem, remove the small leaves from the base and stand them in a deep pan. Squeeze lemon juice over the tops to prevent browning and sprinkle with salt, then add water to come halfway up the artichokes. Partially cover the pan and simmer until tender at the base, about 40 minutes, then serve with plenty of mayonnaise or melted butter for dipping. For a fully-edible preparation, remove all of the tough outside leaves, then cut off the top third of the artichoke and peel the base down to the tender layer. Rub each artichoke all over with a halved lemon as you prep it and place in a pan with water and more lemon juice, salt, pepper and a bay leaf. Add a splash of white wine or some fresh thyme sprigs if you like. Weight the artichokes with a small plate and bring to a simmer, cooking until they are tender. Remove the artichokes from the cooking liquid and cut them in half, then use a spoon to remove the fuzzy “choke.” Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, and serve with grilled fish or toss with pasta. To add to their intrigue, artichokes are notoriously tricky to pair with wine, as they tend to make most wines taste sweeter than they are, so stick with crisp, peppery whites that are not too fruity.
If you can’t find artichokes in your local market, you can order them from Castroville!
http://www.pelicannetwork.net/artichokes.delivered.htm
http://www.pezzinifarms.com
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