01 Ingredients
4 fresh artichokes
1 lemon halved
Olive oil
2tbs finely chopped parsley
Dried chilli seeds
Maldon salt
Ground black pepper
GRILLED ARTICHOKES
serves 4
02 Preparation
Heat the grill to around 230ºC
Wash the artichokes with a vegetable scrubber
Prepare a bowl of water with the juice of half a lemon
Remove all the harder outer leaves, and trim off the small hard leaves on the underside of the artichoke
Using a potato peeler, take off the outer layer of the stems. Trim the stalk end
Slice off the top half of the artichokes and cut the artichoke in half along the vertical
With a spoon, remove the small pale pink spiky leaves and the choke
Put each artichoke in the lemon water bowl to stop them from blackening
Steam the artichokes in a steamer till soft - around 40 min depending on their size
Place them on an oven tray for grilling, core side up
Sprinkle with some olive oil and place them directly under the grill for a few minutes, till the edges are charring
Remove immediately
03 Plating
Using a flattish bowl, place 2 halves of each artichoke in each. Sprinkle over some olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon, some ground black pepper, the chilli seeds, Maldon salt and garnish with the chopped parsley. Serve with extra lemon. Alternatively you can serve them on a large wooden board
Cook’s Notes
Artichokes must be fresh. If they are past their sell by date, the leaves will be dry and separating from the core.