Baked Artichokes with Lemon and Herbs

Ingredients

• 4 whole artichokes
• 1 whole lemon
• 1 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 cup fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. 2

   Prepare the artichokes: Rinse them under cold water. Trim the stems and the top inch of the artichokes. Use kitchen scissors to snip off the sharp tips of the leaves.

3. 3

   In a large pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the artichokes to the boiling water, cover, and steam for 10-15 minutes until they are slightly tender but not fully cooked. Remove from heat and let cool.

4. 4

   While the artichokes are cooling, prepare the filling. Mince the garlic and chop the parsley and thyme. In a bowl, combine the minced garlic, chopped parsley, thyme, bread crumbs, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix well until combined.

5. 5

   Once the artichokes are cool enough to handle, carefully pull apart the leaves and remove the fuzzy choke in the center using a spoon.

6. 6

   Stuff the filling mixture between the leaves and into the center of each artichoke. Drizzle with additional olive oil and squeeze the juice of the lemon over the top.

7. 7

   Place the stuffed artichokes in a baking dish. Pour any remaining olive oil and lemon juice over them. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.

8. 8

   Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the artichokes are fully tender and the tops are golden brown.

9. 9

   Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and serve warm. Enjoy your delicious baked artichokes!