Instant Pot Artichokes

Pressure cooked artichokes are amazingly tender with fall-apart leaves and edible stems. I serve these artichokes with a spicy garlic mustard dip, which adds a nice zing to every bite.

pressure cooked artichoke with garlic mustard dip

Instant Pot Artichokes

4.25 from 20 ratings
Prep
20 mins
Cook
10 mins
Total
30 mins
Makes
2 servings

Ingredients

Dipping Sauce:

Optional Toppings:

Instructions

  1. Prepare Artichokes: Rinse artichokes. Snap off and discard any errant outer leaves on stems. Snip off any large thorns on leaves using kitchen shears. Saw off and discard top-third of leaves (inedible leaves furthest from stem) using serrated knife. Cut off and discard lower part of stem, leaving at least 1 inch attached to artichoke (Note 2).

  2. Cook Artichokes: Place trivet inside pressure cooker (Note 3). Add water. Place artichokes upside down on trivet. Cover and seal lid. Select steam mode and adjust cooking time for 10 minutes at high pressure. Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure by turning release knob to venting position. Pull off outer artichoke leaf to test doneness; leaf should come off with little resistance. Set artichokes aside until cool enough to handle.

  3. Make Dipping Sauce: Whisk or vigorously stir all dipping sauce ingredients in medium mixing bowl until very smooth, with no mayonnaise clumps remaining. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

  4. Serve: Slice cooled artichokes in half, through stem, handling carefully to avoid breaking off tender leaves. Scoop out and discard fuzzy needle-like white centers and purple leaves from each artichoke half using spoon. Arrange artichokes on serving plates. Optionally, lightly brush cut surfaces with olive oil and season with pepper and salt. Serve with prepared dipping sauce and plate for discarded leaves (Note 4).

Nutrition

Makes 2 Servings
Amount Per Serving (1 artichoke with dip):
Calories 410 (82% from fat) 
Total Fat 37g57%
   Saturated Fat 4g18%
Cholesterol 25mg8%
Sodium 1020mg43%
Net Carb 6.5g 
Total Carb 14g5%
   Dietary Fiber 7.5g29%
   Sugars 1.5g 
Protein 4g 
Vitamin A 4% · Vitamin C 26% · Calcium 6% · Iron 9%

Photos

NOTES & TIPS

(1) Selecting Artichokes. Use globe artichokes, which are green, round, and large (about 1 pound each), not the elongated types. They should be fresh, whole, and raw, available in the produce section of grocery stores, not canned or pre-cooked. Select ones with tightly formed leaves and a vibrant green color, avoiding any that look dry, have very woody stems, or have loose or split leaves. Ideally, the artichoke should have at least 1 inch of stem still attached. Artichokes are in season from March to May, although you can find them in many U.S. grocery stores year-round. Selecting fresh, high quality artichokes makes a huge difference in this dish; if you select a bad artichoke, it can taste dry or tough even if you nail all of the cooking steps. Once you bring your artichokes home, store them unwashed in a produce bag in the fridge. Plan to use them within a few days.

(2) Preparing Artichokes. You should cut off only the brown woody part of the stem. Try to leave intact as much of the green stem as possible because it’s one of the most delicious and tender parts of a cooked artichoke.

(3) Pressure Cooker Equipment. I use a 6-quart Instant Pot with the trivet that came packaged with it. If you don't have a trivet, use a steam rack or a makeshift aluminum foil contraption that can elevate the artichokes above the water level.

(4) Serving. To eat, peel off one leaf at a time (starting with the outermost leaves), dip into the sauce, and use your teeth to scrape off the meat of the leaf. Repeat until all of the leaves are gone. Only the heart and stem should remain (the best parts); the heart is completely edible, and the stem is edible if it’s tender and not too woody. For leftovers, cover and refrigerate, reheating using the microwave.

(5) Other Cooking Methods. See Boiled Artichokes and Microwaved Artichokes recipes.

Discussion & ratings

40 comments · 4.25 / 5 from 20 ratings

Lifelong California Resident

★★★★

It’s much easier (and faster) to cut the artichokes in half lengthwise & scoop out the choke BEFORE cooking. Layer them cut side down in the IP (or any pressure cooker or steamer, for that matter), and steam until done. Boiling steals nutrients and flavor - steaming or pressure cooking is the only way they should be cooked. We used to drive over the hill to Castroville on the weekends for the giant Globes...so yummy!! Your dipping sauce sounds yummy too!! I usually use clarified butter, lemon and garlic, but will have to give yours a try!
Like (6)
The reason I've been cutting the artichokes in half after cooking is because the cooked artichokes are a lot easier to cut than raw ones.
Like (6)

★★★★★

I followed your recipe for the artichokes but did a simpler dip with just melted butter, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Yum!
Like (2)
I dont have an instant pot but the other kind of pressure cooker, unfortunatly it did not have enough space to steam one let alone 2 med artichokes. So I just boiled them which work out ok.. But I did try your dip, it was yummy even without the thyme (ran out apparently) Thank you for you recipes
Like (1)
Ashley Mangum
Do you have to have the trivet? I don't have one...
Like (1)
Do you have a steam basket? That would also work. Or you can elevate your artichoke by using aluminum foil to create a trivet of sorts.
Like (0)
Tannsgirl
My first solid food was artichokes. My mother would scrape the meat off each leaf and feed me by spoons full. Really time consuming! Still love them.
Like (1)
Jenny Miles

★★★★★

I am so grateful for this recipe! My artichokes turned out amazing. Nice and tender with more flavor. I will never boil again. Thank you for sharing 💛
Like (1)

★★★★★

My first home, after I got married 46 years ago, was in Monterey California. Cooking artichokes was one of my first culinary triumphs. I used the classics method of boiling them and flavoring in water with bay leaves, lemon,etc. I am a new instant pot owner and I’m trying lots of techniques and recipes. It’s quite fun. Will putting the same herbs in the water and pressure cook the artichokes produce the same results and infuse them with flavor? Your advice is most welcome.
Like (0)
Hi Andrea! Putting herbs in the water and pressure cooking the artichokes will add some flavor, but not as much compared to the boiling method. I usually add spices and seasonings after it has finished cooking for extra flavor. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
Like (0)
I just discovered the deliciousness of artichokes this summer- and man, am I upset it didn't happen sooner. LOVE these little guys!
Like (0)
This is fascinating. I have no idea what an instant pot is, nor do I want yet another piece of kitchen equipment, but I am impressed!
Like (0)
It's a multi-cooker -- does pressure cooking, yogurt, rice, slow cooking, etc. I have a version of this recipe for those who don't have an Instant Pot: https://www.savorytooth.com/how-to-cook-artichokes-perfectly/
Like (0)

★★★★★

I felt as you do, Mimi, until half a dozen friends piped up about their new IPs. So I bought one - the small size. Now I'm an enthusiast! Foods emerge tasty but not soggy, unlike some cooked in regular pressure cookers; and because the cooking time even for, say, tough cuts of meat is so reduced, flavors stay distinct, unlike some cooked in slow-cookers. If you treat yourself to one, toss the useless, badly designed and near-incomprehensible recipe booklet that comes with, and treat yourself to Melissa Clark's book "Dinner in an Instant" (New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2017). Clark is a food writer for the NY Times, and a good one. In this small volume are approaches and techniques that can be adapted for many other recipes.
Like (0)
Dan Phillips

★★★

The only thing missing is how to choose a good artichoke? It's like choosing cantaloupe. Get a bad artichoke and no way of cooking the little boogers is good enough. So, cooked 3 medium sized artichokes last night. I think the altitude here in Denver affected the tenderness. I actually went 11 minutes just in case and I think I need to extend the time to 14-15 mins next time. There were a few leaves that had a decent amount of flesh but the leaves weren't tender enough to scrape all the flesh off. The sauce was just OK for me. We've used out own recipe for years. I think we prefer a milder mayo sauce so the flavor of the artichoke isn't overwhelmed. I usually mix mayo with a tbl of lemon juice and add some curry to the mixture. Just enough for a mild curry flavor. If anyone knows how to choose a ripe fleshy artichoke I'd like to know? I'll try the instant pot method again but maybe wait till I see a thicker artichoke.
Like (0)
That's too bad that yours didn't turn out well. I've used this pressure cooking method for artichokes of all sizes, even tested with different pressure cookers, and it's always produced super tender artichokes. Two things:
  • Did you remember to do a 10 minute natural release? They continue to cook during the pressure release.
  • The recipe calls for 2 artichokes, not the 3 that you used, because overcrowding can affect how they cook. I would recommend cooking only 2 at a time.
Like (0)

★★★★

Same thing happened to us. We live in Aspen, 8000 feet elevation. 10 minutes was nowhere near enough time to cook the artichoke. Going for 20 minutes next time. Dipping sauce is great
Like (0)
wow, I live in denver and had the EXACT same thing happen to me! 3 whole artichoke in my instant pot, 10 min, then 4 more, then 5 more min (all quick release) and they were not tender at all!! we were so disappointed. we will try again though- cooking only 2 at a time.
Like (0)
you have to adjust cooking time for Denver's altitude. Cooking time adjustment for altitude is discussed on other sites.
Like (0)

★★★★★

I'm from CA too and LOOOOOVE artichokes. After making this, I'm definitely preferring the pressure cooker method over others.
Like (0)

★★★★★

My first instapot recipe and came out really well. Thank you!
Like (0)

★★★★

I tried your boiling method as well as the pressure cooker and they are BOTH GREAT!!! I might use the pressure cooker from now on though because it seems easier.
Like (0)

★★★★

Can't believe I used to be so intimidated by artichokes!!! Your photos and recipe made this so easy to make.
Like (0)

★★★★

Very useful step by step photos. Mine came out incredibly tender and my whole family loved it.
Like (0)