Chestnut Free Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes
Steamed artichokes have a reputation for being fussy, but the Instant Pot turns them into a genuinely low-effort weeknight treat — tender all the way through, with none of the guesswork of stovetop boiling. Each artichoke is prepped with a quick trim, rubbed with lemon to keep everything bright, then cooked in a fragrant bath of garlic, bay leaf, and citrus that perfumes every leaf from the inside out. The result is silky, pull-apart leaves that are practically made for dragging through the warm lemon-garlic butter served alongside. That dipping sauce — just butter, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, and a little parsley — is simple enough to throw together while the pressure releases, and it absolutely makes the dish. For anyone navigating tree nut concerns, this recipe is naturally worry-free: every ingredient is a straightforward kitchen staple with no hidden surprises. It's the kind of hands-on, leaf-by-leaf eating experience that slows dinner down in the best possible way, and it works just as well as a starter as it does a light main.
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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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