Easy Jarred Artichoke Hearts Recipe with Spicy Tomato Sauce - Spain on a Fork (2024)

FAQs

How to eat artichoke hearts from a jar? ›

The artichoke hearts sold in jars are already cooked. They're tender and ready to eat, but not very flavorful. The best thing to do with them is marinate them and roast them. A simple vinaigrette of lemon juice or vinegar, garlic and olive oil is all you really need to give them a flavor punch.

It doesn't matter how you find 'em--frozen, canned, bottled, marinated or discovered at the center of the beautiful fresh vegetable--artichoke hearts have amazing flavor and boast some serious nutrients. First, they're loaded with potassium, a mineral that helps maintain normal heart rhythm and controls blood pressure.

Artichoke hearts preserved in olive oil are great on bread sprinkled with parsley, on crostini or pizza, mixed with pasta or in a risotto. You could also fry them together with your omelet, mix them into a Mediterranean salad or enjoy them pure on a summery antipasti platter.

Then you are ready to eat the best part…the artichoke heart! The heart is about a half-inch thick at the base of the artichoke. To separate it from the remaining leaves, repeatedly stick the tines of a fork between the heart and the base of the leaf cone, working your way around the whole artichoke.

When choosing canned artichokes, you'll find that they're usually sold either whole or quartered in a saltwater solution. When you open a can of artichokes, be sure to rinse them thoroughly so that all you're left with is the sweet, slightly tangy flavor and creamy texture of the vegetable.

Several studies have shown that artichokes have properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, hypocholesterolaemic, anti-HIV, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering effects.

Unlike mushy canned artichokes, we find that jarred artichokes stay fairly firm and meaty. We admit they're not quite as fresh-tasting as frozen artichokes, but like we said, they're great in a pinch when we need a quick weeknight meal. These artichoke hearts can round out a frittata or top a quick pizza.

Whole globe artichokes can be purchased fresh, and artichoke hearts are available frozen, canned in water, or jarred in olive oil and spices. The oil-packed ones are a little higher in healthy fat, but draining the oil will help save some calories.

The earthiness and umami taste of mushrooms are enhanced and fortified by the presence of artichoke. The sweet and slightly wild taste of lamb well lends itself to a marriage with artichoke hearts. So do other animal proteins, such as chicken or eggs. With aromatic herbs such as thyme, parsley, basil and Roman mint.

What do artichokes in a jar taste like? ›

These artichoke hearts have a great flavor. They are a little tangy from the vinegar in the marinade, but the added marinade flavor makes for delicious artichoke hearts.

Marinate and dress your veggies

Since the artichoke liquid is already made up of ingredients like oil, vinegar, and salt, it's an ideal base for a marinade or salad dressing, which usually rely on the same lineup.

Are marinated artichoke hearts good for you? Absolutely! They are very high in fiber and contain a multitude of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, phosphorus, and magnesium. They are also a rich source of potassium and antioxidants.

Preparing artichokes is quite easy though I have found that many home cooks, even accomplished ones, often overcook them, so that both the delicious tips of the leaves and the hearts are mushy. They shouldn't be. There should be a bit of resistance when you take a bite - not a lot, but some.

With a knife or spoon, scrape out and discard the inedible fuzzy part (called the "choke") covering the artichoke heart. Cut the heart into pieces and eat: Underneath the artichoke choke is the heart. Cut the heart into pieces and dip into melted butter, a vinaigrette, or a sauce to eat.

The parts of an artichoke that can be enjoyed raw include the fleshy bracts, the heart and even the stem!

You can just eat them raw

The easiest artichoke option of them all, of course, is simply eating them straight from the jar. If you're buying canned from the supermarket, you'll want to be sure to give them a good rinse to remove excess sodium; otherwise, it's easy to eat them straight.