ArtiChowDown Luncheon—Lunch for 4
ArtiChowDown Luncheon is a Mediterranean-inspired lunch dish featuring tender artichokes, seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices. This flavorful and nutritious meal is perfect for a light yet satisfying midday repast, offering a delightful taste of the Mediterranean in every bite.
Meal Type
Lunch
Cuisine
Mediterranean
Servings
4
Food Stars
Artichokes
Health
Variations
Diets
Variations
Do This With That Stuff
- Trim the stems and top third of the artichokes using a chef’s knife on a cutting board
- Peel the outer layer of the stems with a vegetable peeler
- Cut each artichoke in half lengthwise
- Remove the fuzzy choke from each artichoke half using a spoon
- Place the cleaned artichoke halves in a large pot
- Add 1/4 cup olive oil to the pot
- Mince 2 cloves of garlic with a garlic press and add to the pot
- Juice 1 whole lemon using a citrus juicer and add to the pot
- Pour 1/2 cup white wine and 1/2 cup vegetable broth into a measuring cup, then add to the pot
- Measure 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper using a measuring spoon set, then add to the pot
- Stir all ingredients in the pot with a wooden spoon until well combined
- Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and cover with a lid
- Simmer for 30-40 minutes or until artichokes are tender when pierced with a fork
- Chop fresh parsley on cutting board until you have 1/4 cup worth
- Remove cooked artichokes from pot with tongs or slotted spoon onto serving plates
- Spoon some cooking liquid over each serving
- Sprinkle chopped parsley evenly over each serving before serving
Obvious and Not So Obvious Variations and Pairings
☕ Bitter
- Add 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Add 1/4 cup chopped radicchio
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup dry vermouth
- Add 1 tbsp capers
🧂 Salty
- Increase salt to 1 tsp
- Add 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Add 1/4 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
- Add 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
🍋 Sour
- Increase the lemon juice to 1.5 whole lemons
- Add 2 tbsp capers
- Add 1/4 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
- Replace white wine with 3/4 cup white wine vinegar
🌶️ Spicy
- Add 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Increase black pepper to 1/2 tsp
🍬 Sweet
- Add 1/4 cup honey
- Add 1/2 cup golden raisins
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup sweet white wine
- Add 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
🍄 Umami
- Add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Add 1 tbsp tomato paste
- Add 1/2 tsp anchovy paste
- Increase the dried oregano to 1.5 tsp
- Increase the dried basil to 1.5 tsp
🍸 Alcoholic
- Vermentino: The crisp acidity and citrus notes complement the artichoke and lemon flavors
- Sauvignon Blanc: The herbal undertones and bright acidity enhance the dish’s herbaceous profile
- Rosé: The light, fruity character balances the dish’s savory elements
🥤 Non Alcoholic
- Sparkling Water with Lemon: The effervescence and lemon flavor complement the artichoke dish while cleansing the palate
- Iced Green Tea: The mild, slightly bitter taste of green tea pairs well with the Mediterranean flavors and helps to balance the richness of the olive oil
- Pomegranate Juice: The tartness and fruity flavor of pomegranate juice enhance the herbal notes in the dish and provide a refreshing contrast
🥓 Keto
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- Replace vegetable broth with 1/2 cup chicken broth
🍆 Mediterranean
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup red wine
- Add 1/4 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
- Add 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Add 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
🥑 Paleo
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Replace vegetable broth with 1/2 cup chicken broth
🐟 Pescatarian
- Add 8 oz of shrimp, peeled and deveined
- Add 1 tbsp capers
🌱 Vegan
- No changes needed. The recipe is already vegan friendly.
🥦 Vegetarian
- No changes needed as the recipe is already vegetarian friendly.
🥩 Whole30
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup additional vegetable broth
- Use 1/2 cup compliant vegetable broth
🧠 Brain Health
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup red wine
- Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Add 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- Replace vegetable broth with 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
🌾 Celiac Disease
- No changes needed.
💩 Crohns Disease
- Remove white wine
- Replace vegetable broth with low-sodium vegetable broth
- Decrease olive oil to 2 tbsp
🩸 Diabetes
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- Add 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
- Add 1/4 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
🍞 Gluten Intolerance
- No changes needed for gluten intolerance.
🫀 Heart Disease
- Replace olive oil with 2 tbsp olive oil
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
❤️ Heart Health
- Decrease olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
- Add 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
🧂 High Blood Pressure
- Remove 1/2 tsp salt
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
- Increase fresh parsley to 1/2 cup
🍔 High Cholesterol
- Replace olive oil with 2 tbsp olive oil
- Replace white wine with 1/4 cup white wine
- Replace vegetable broth with 1 cup vegetable broth
🦠 Immune System
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- Add 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
- Add 1/2 cup chopped spinach
- Add 1/4 cup chopped almonds
🚽 Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup water
- Replace garlic with 1/4 cup finely chopped green onion tops (green part only)
- Replace vegetable broth with 1/2 cup low FODMAP chicken broth
- Replace dried basil with 1 tsp dried chives
💧 Kidney Disease
- Decrease olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup water
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
- Replace vegetable broth with 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
🐄 Lactose Intolerance
- No changes needed.
🍺 Liver Disease
- Decrease olive oil to 2 tbsp
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup apple juice
- Decrease salt to 1/4 tsp
🤰 Pregnancy
- Replace white wine with 1/2 cup apple juice
Beti’s Reflections
On a recent culinary adventure through the Mediterranean, I stumbled upon a delightful little eatery that served the most scrumptious artichoke dish I’ve ever tasted. The moment I took my first bite, I knew I had to recreate this masterpiece for my beloved readers. And so, dear foodies, I present to you the Mediterranean ArtiChowDown Luncheon – a heavenly artichoke luncheon recipe that will transport your taste buds straight to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean.
This easy artichoke dish serves four people and is perfect for those seeking a healthy Mediterranean lunch option. While it’s not specifically tailored for gluten-free or dairy-free diets, it’s an excellent choice for vegetarians and anyone looking to indulge in a flavorful artichoke meal.
The star of our ArtiChowDown Luncheon is, of course, the tender artichokes. We’ll be using four medium-sized ones, which will be simmered in a divine concoction of olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, white wine, and vegetable broth. The aromatic herbs – dried oregano and basil – along with salt and black pepper add depth to this Mediterranean artichoke recipe. And let’s not forget the pièce de résistance: a generous sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley to elevate this easy artichoke lunch to new heights.
Now let’s dive into the instructions! Start by trimming the stems and top third of your artichokes before peeling their outer layer. Cut each one in half lengthwise and remove the fuzzy choke with a spoon. Place your cleaned artichokes in a large pot along with olive oil, minced garlic cloves, lemon juice, white wine, vegetable broth, dried oregano, dried basil, salt and black pepper. Stir everything together until well combined before bringing it all to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes until your artichokes are tender. Finally, garnish your garlic lemon artichokes with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley and serve!
And there you have it, my dear food enthusiasts – the ArtiChowDown Luncheon, a vegetarian artichoke meal that’s as delicious as it is nutritious. This Mediterranean-inspired lunch will surely become a staple in your kitchen, and I can’t wait to hear about your own culinary adventures with this delightful dish. So go ahead, channel your inner Mediterranean chef and whip up this easy artichoke lunch recipe today!
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