Name: Roasted Artichokes for Two
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 lemon , plus lemon wedges for serving; 2 artichokes (8 to 10 ounces each); 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; Salt and pepper

Why This Recipe Works

Artichokes are often steamed, but we find that roasting is the best approach for accentuating their nutty flavor. To ensure artichokes that are fully tender and nicely browned, we trim them one by one, dropping them in lemon water to prevent them from oxidizing. Next, we toss the artichokes with seasoned oil, making sure to get oil between their leaves. Finally, we roast them in a 475-degree oven in a baking dish tightly crimped with foil until the leaves, heart, and stem are tender. To accentuate the rich, nutty flavor of the vegetable, we serve them with a tangy lemon vinaigrette or a garlicky butter sauce.

Before You Begin

If your artichokes are larger than 8 to 10 ounces, strip away another layer or two of the toughest outer leaves. Serve the artichokes plain with a squeeze of lemon. Use your teeth to scrape the flesh from the tough outer leaves. The inner tender leaves, heart, and stem are entirely edible.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Cut lemon in half, squeeze halves into 1 quart water, and drop in spent halves.

Cut off most of stem of 1 artichoke, leaving about 3/4 inch attached. Cut off top quarter. Pull tough outer leaves downward toward stem and break off at base; continue until first three or four rows of leaves have been removed. Using paring knife, trim outer layer of stem and rough areas around base, removing any dark green parts. Cut artichoke in half lengthwise. Using spoon, remove fuzzy choke. Pull out inner, tiny purple-tinged leaves, leaving small cavity in center of each half. Drop prepped halves into lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichoke.

Brush 8-inch square baking dish with 1 tablespoon oil. Remove artichokes from lemon water, shaking off some excess lemon water (some should be left clinging to leaves). Toss artichokes with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt and season with pepper to taste, gently working some oil and seasonings between leaves. Arrange artichoke halves cut side down in baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil.

Roast until cut sides of artichokes start to brown and both base and leaves are tender when poked with tip of paring knife, 22 to 27 minutes. Transfer artichokes to serving dish. Serve artichokes warm or at room temperature, passing lemon wedges separately.