Baked Breaded Artichokes

Baked breaded artichokes are a great way to enjoy this vegetable in a light and tasty manner. Here’s the recipe with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

• 4 artichokes
• 1 lemon
• 100 g of breadcrumbs
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Chopped parsley to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Clean the artichokes by removing the tougher outer leaves and the spiny tip. Cut them in half or quarters and remove the ‘beard’ from the inside. As you clean them, plunge them into a bowl with cold water and the juice of a lemon to prevent oxidation.
3. Boil the artichokes for about 5-10 minutes in a pot with boiling salted water and lemon juice. They should soften but remain fairly al dente.
4. Drain the artichokes and let them cool slightly.
5. In a bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, chopped garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of oil to create an aromatic breading.
6. Coat the artichokes in the breading, making sure the mixture sticks well to the artichokes.
7. Arrange the breaded artichokes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
8. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the artichokes are golden and crispy.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Curiosity

Artichokes are a much-loved ingredient in Italian cuisine, especially in the Lazio region where the city of Rome consumes them in large quantities, so much so that it has its own variety called “Romanesco artichoke.” This recipe is a healthier variant of fried artichokes but strives to maintain the same crunchy and satisfying pleasure of the original dish.