Low Sugar Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes
Artichokes have a reputation for being fussy, but the Instant Pot makes them genuinely approachable — tender all the way through, with none of the guesswork of stovetop steaming. The cooking liquid gets a boost from smashed garlic, a bay leaf, and fresh lemon, so the artichokes absorb subtle flavor before they even hit the table. What makes this recipe especially satisfying is that every bit of richness comes from real, whole ingredients — there's no hidden sweetener lurking in a sauce packet or store-bought dip. The dipping butter is the real star: slow-melted with fresh garlic and finished with a squeeze of lemon and a handful of parsley, it's bright, savory, and completely addictive. Pulling the leaves one by one and dragging them through that warm butter is one of those simple pleasures that feels far more indulgent than it actually is. This is the kind of dish that turns a weeknight into something worth sitting down for.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the artichokes
- 4 medium artichokes (about 10–12 oz each)
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 cup water
- 3 garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp salt
For the dipping butter
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Trim the artichokes: slice off the top 1 inch of each artichoke with a chef's knife, then use kitchen shears to snip the sharp tips off the remaining outer leaves. Cut the stem flush with the base so each artichoke sits flat. Rub all cut surfaces immediately with the cut side of one lemon half to prevent browning.
- 2
Pour 1 cup water into the Instant Pot insert. Squeeze the remaining lemon half into the water, then drop in the spent lemon half, the smashed garlic cloves, bay leaf, and salt. Place the trivet or steamer basket in the pot and set the artichokes on it stem-side down.
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