Gluten Free Cilantro-Lime Steamed Artichokes
Steamed artichokes are one of those dishes that feel almost ceremonial — pulling each leaf, dragging it through a bright, herby sauce, working your way down to the tender heart. The steaming liquid here is loaded with smashed garlic, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, so the artichokes absorb flavor from the inside out before they even hit the plate. The dipping sauce is where things really shine: avocado oil, fresh lime juice, chopped cilantro, cumin, and a pinch of red pepper flakes come together into something zippy and a little addictive. Every component in this recipe is naturally free of gluten, so there's no substituting or label-checking required — just whole, clean ingredients doing exactly what they're supposed to do. It's an impressive dish to set out for guests, but honestly just as satisfying eaten solo over the kitchen sink. If you've never cooked artichokes at home before, this method is forgiving and straightforward, and the payoff is absolutely worth the steam time.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the artichokes
- 4 large artichokes
- 1 lime, halved
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- ½ cup fresh cilantro stems and leaves, loosely packed
- ½ tsp salt
For the dipping sauce
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Fill a large pot with 2 inches of water. Add the smashed garlic cloves, cilantro stems and leaves, the juice of half the lime (squeeze it directly into the water), and 1/2 tsp salt. Set a steamer basket inside the pot — the water should sit just below the basket.
- 2
Trim the artichokes: slice off the top 1 inch of each artichoke with a chef's knife, then snip the sharp tips from the outer leaves with kitchen shears if desired. Rub all cut surfaces immediately with the remaining lime half to prevent browning.
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