Grilled Artichokes with Balsamic Vinegar

Sweet and tangy, these grilled artichokes are caramelized with balsamic vinegar making them a delicious and easy appetizer.

Is it just me or are food bloggers obsessed with desserts? I understand the appeal of something sweet, decadent and gooey to entice and attract readers. We’re only human. I’m guilty of it myself!

But you don’t see people going ga-ga over a roasted chicken, meatloaf or salad like you do over a coma-inducing chocolate cake. Do you? Don’t get me wrong. I adore desserts. When I plan a party, I typically plan the dessert first. It really is the most important part of a meal!

Why you must try this recipe

The artichoke is technically a flower bud from the thistle plant that has not opened all of the way. A variety of them grow wild here in California and I’ve seen the beautiful blooming flower grow. The most common of the artichokes, the ones we see in the grocery store, is the globe artichoke.

Artichokes are really easy to grow, especially for the absent-minded gardener (ahem! ahem!). Because they grow so well in coastal California, that means they like our mild winters.

Heavy rains from the winter, makes them bloom and blossom in the spring. The plant dies back in the summer months and grows back again in the winter.

The large varieties of artichokes have a hairy choke in the center, while the small baby versions do not. Artichokes can be roasted, grilled, braised, stuffed and even steamed. However you cook them, artichokes do require some cleaning.

As you can see, the leaves of the artichoke are many and compact. So it does take some time to cook an artichoke. Even when I grill artichokes, I like to steam them for a little bit first.

Once the artichokes are mostly, but not all the way cooked, remove the artichokes from their steam bath. You can tell the doneness of the artichoke by piercing it with a fork or knife.

You can add the marinade to the steamed artichokes before or after grilling. I personally like to coat the steamed artichokes with the marinade because the grill helps caramelize the vinegar creating a deliciously sweet and sour combination.

Plus, when you prepare the artichokes following this recipe, you don’t need a dipping sauce to go with it!

Why grill artichokes? Well it offers a nice smoke and char to the flavor.

Ingredients you need

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• Artichokes: You can use large globe artichokes or smaller versions. You can use any variety of artichokes, including purple artichokes. Smaller artichokes cook faster than larger ones.
• Extra virgin olive oil: Choose a high quality olive oil and it will have a higher smoking point. You can use a mild flavor or peppery one. You can also used an infused olive oil, like lemon or basil, for more flavor.
• Balsamic vinegar: You use a plain balsamic or a flavored one. A fruity balsamic would pair nicely with the woody flavor or artichokes. Do use a thicker balsamic vinegar, as it would caramelize more.
• Salt and pepper

Step-by-step directions

1. If the tips of your artichoke leaves have thorns, you will want to cut them all off. Using a serrated knife, cut off approximately ¼ to ½-inch off the top of the artichoke. Remove the smaller and thicker leaves towards the bottom of the stem.

The stem of the artichoke is edible, so do not remove it completely. Do only leave about 1-inch of the stem as the rest of the stem can taste bitter. Give the cut part of the artichoke a drizzle of lemon juice to keep it from browning.

2. Add a steam basket into a large pot with about 1-inch of water and place the artichokes into the basket, top side up. If you do not have a steam basket, reduce water to ½-inch deep and place artichokes directly into the boiling water.

Cover the pot and steam the artichokes on medium heat until slightly under-cooked. Remove artichokes from the steam basket and allow to rest until cool enough to handle, about 10-15 minutes.

3. Cut the artichokes in half, revealing the heart. Carefully remove the fuzz and small leaves from the inside of the artichokes, but keep the rest of the artichoke intact.

4. In a large bowl whisk together 2 TBS olive oil with 1 TBS balsamic vinegar. Place halved artichokes into the bowl and pour marinade all over it. Press the artichokes into the marinade, cut side down and let it rest for 30 minutes.

5. Heat your grill to high heat and oil the grates. Place artichokes on the hot grill and cook for 7-10 minutes on each side, pressing down gently with a spatula or panini press.

6. Remove from the grill and place artichokes on a serving plate. Drizzle remaining olive oil and vinegar over the artichokes and season with salt and pepper.

Expert tips and recipe FAQs

You can steam the artichokes ahead of time and then marinate and grill them. Remember, they only need about 30 minutes of marinating time.

Store artichokes in an air tight container and refrigerate. They should last about 3 days in the refrigerator. You can freeze steamed artichokes. Once cooled place in freezer safe bags. They should last in the freezer for about 3 months. They will soften more once thawed so don’t over cook if you are freezing them.

My family and I absolutely adore artichokes of all shapes and varieties, so enjoy some of their favorite artichoke recipes:

• Chile-Lime Roasted Artichokes
• Braised Baby Purple Artichokes with Olive Oil and Wine
• Sangria Artichoke with Garlic Butter
• Italian Stuffed Artichokes
• Braised Baby Artichokes and Mushrooms with Garlic and Lemon
• Tequila Lime Roasted Artichokes
• Steamed Artichokes with Garlic Mayonnaise

PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback.

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