Oven Roasted Artichoke Halves

I remember a handful of years back, a friend and I used to go to Cheesecake Factory’s happy hour every week (sometimes twice a week). We’d order the same thing; their five dollar cosmopolitans and the fire-roasted artichoke halves. I was obsessed. I think I must have ordered those delicious artichokes any time I ever went there.

Growing up, there was only one way I used to eat artichokes, and that was the way my mom always used to make them. She’d steam them and we’d have them with a lemon/mayo dipping sauce. Not quite an aioli, because we never added garlic. Personally, as a kid, I just dipped in in straight-up mayonnaise.

As an adult, that was still the way I made artichokes at home. But whenever I hit up that Cheesecake Factory, I was all about the fire-roasted artichokes. So one day I decided, “why not make my own version?”, but instead of having to fire up the grill, I thought why not make them in the oven??

Why I love artichokes so much

Artichokes are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are high in Vitamin C, K, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron. So that’s pretty awesome, am I right? That’s just a bonus though… I love the taste of artichokes!!! They are also fun to eat, make an amazing side dish to any meal. Personally, I would eat them hot or cold.

Different ways to cook artichokes

Like I briefly mentioned before, growing up we always steamed our artichokes. As I have gotten older, I have discovered that there are actually lots of different ways to cook them! Not only can you steam them, but you can also grill them or bake them in the oven. You can make them plain and dip them in a delicious sauce, or you can split them in half and marinate them with garlic butter, or a vinaigrette.

How to make oven roasted artichoke halves

There are a few simple ingredients you will need to make these delicious oven roasted artichoke halves. One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is to make simple meals that taste good but also are done quickly and with minimal clean-up. This is one of those 5-star recipes that I absolutely love and find myself making over and over.

To make your own oven roasted artichoke halves, you will need:

• 2 large artichokes (more if you are serving 4+ people)
• 1 lemon
• salt and pepper

Yup, that’s it.

How to prep artichokes for roasting

First of all, you want to make sure you wash your artichokes well. I run them under cold water and make sure that the water goes through all of the leaves. Most of the time the leaves on the artichoke will be closed fairly tight, so you want to make sure that you clean it well.

Then, once you are done rinsing them, you want to turn them upside down to drain out any excess water.Use a clean towel, or paper towel, to dry off your artichokes.

Place them on a cutting board and chop off the stems and the top “crown” of the artichokes. Take out a pair of kitchen scissors and begin snipping off the tips of the outer leaves which have the thorns. Once you have removed all the thorns, carefully slice your artichokes in half, length-wise, with a sharp knife.

Now, using a paring knife (which is the short chef’s knife with a blade of about 8-10 centimeters), carve out the “choke” of the artichoke. That’s the middle part of the artichoke that has the hairs. Then scoop out the center’s purple leaves with a spoon.

Your artichoke halves are ready for the oven!

Now that you have properly prepped your artichokes, they are ready to be placed in the oven! Go ahead and preheat your oven to 375 degrees (F). Place your prepped artichoke halves on a glass Pyrex facing up. Spray or drizzle a little bit of avocado oil over the artichokes, coating them evenly.

Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the lemon juice all over the inside of the artichoke halves (the hollowed-out part). Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on the inside of your artichokes, then flip them over so they are flat side down. Use the same lemon and rub it on the outer leaves.

How long to bake artichoke halves

Bake your artichokes for 50-60 minutes. The outer leaves will be slightly charred and the artichoke flesh should be tender. Enjoy with melted butter or a homemade aioli.

Looking for a main dish to serve with these delicious roasted artichoke halves?  Look no further!  Try my Whole Chicken Recipe or check out more quick and easy Girl Appetit appetizers here!