Pork Free Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes
Artichokes have a reputation for being fussy, but the Instant Pot completely changes the game — what used to take 45 minutes on the stovetop is now a hands-off pressure cook with a fraction of the effort. Each artichoke steams over a fragrant bath of lemon, smashed garlic, and bay leaf, so the leaves soak up subtle flavor before they even hit the dipping sauce. Speaking of which, the warm lemon-garlic butter here is genuinely hard to stop eating — just butter, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, and a little parsley melted together into something that tastes far more special than its ingredient list suggests. The whole dish is naturally free of any pork-derived ingredients, so there's nothing to scrutinize or swap out — just clean, simple produce and dairy from start to finish. Pulling off a leaf, scraping the tender flesh with your teeth, and dunking it into that glossy butter is one of those slow, satisfying eating experiences that feels almost ceremonial. It works equally well as a starter for a dinner party or a quiet weeknight treat for yourself.
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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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