Paraben Free Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes
Artichokes have a reputation for being fussy, but the Instant Pot turns them into a genuinely effortless weeknight treat. The pressure steam coaxes each leaf to tender perfection in a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop, and the lemon-rubbed prep keeps everything looking vibrant and fresh. What makes this recipe so clean and straightforward is that every single ingredient is whole and unprocessed — fresh artichokes, real butter, garlic, lemon, and herbs — with absolutely nothing hidden in the list. For anyone navigating sensitivities to synthetic preservatives, that kind of ingredient transparency is genuinely reassuring. The lemon-garlic dipping butter is the real showstopper: fragrant, bright, and rich enough to make pulling each leaf feel like a little ritual. Serve them upright on a platter and let everyone dig in — it's the kind of hands-on, share-around dish that turns a simple dinner into something memorable.
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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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