Apparently fried artichokes are a “thing”. Especially here in California.
Right now, they’re at every road side stand stretching from San Francisco down to LA and though I have yet to experience them in all their fried farm stand glory, I took it upon myself to recreate my own somewhat healthier version at home.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, if I were at a farm stand in Monterey right now you better bet your dollar I’d have my face in a big greasy pile of these. I’m not a girl scared of a little fry grease…especially when chicken or anything else is involved for that matter.
Anyway, when I first heard about fried artichokes being a “thing” last week my curiosity was peaked and I had to know more…like did they fry the entire ‘choke or just the hearts? Did you still scrape the leaves with your two front teeth? What sauce was served with such a thing and where could I find one right now, at ten o’clock at night.
Finally, after coming to the conclusion that I was just not going to find myself a fried artichoke close to midnight I grabbed a pen and started writing a recipe for what I thought would be a baked version.
We would have panko breadcrumbs and plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a simple aioli sauce made from mayo, garlic and lemon juice. I couldn’t wait to try it out!
Turned out, my baked version still came out super crispy…like what I can imagine the “real” fried ones taste like. They’re rather fritter-like, with a cheesy crust revealing the soft and dense artichoke heart inside.
I ate mine alongside a sandwich for lunch, but think they would be perfect served alongside pretty much any entree this season. Heck, I’d eat ’em on their own any time of day…artichokes are vegetables, right?!
Better than Fried Artichokes with Quick Aioli Dipping Sauce
serves 1-2
Ingredients:
1 can whole artichoke hearts
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs (or seasoned Italian breadcrumbs)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 egg
for quick aioli:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, minced
tiny pinch paprika
1/2 lemon, juiced
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Drain and rinse the artichoke hearts then pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, salt and pepper. In another smaller bowl, crack the egg and beat lightly with a fork.
Line a baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper and give a quick spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Lightly drench each heart in the egg then cover with the breadcrumbs. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through. While hearts are baking, prepare the sauce.
Mix together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic and paprika until smooth. Serve with artichoke hearts.
Time:
40 minutes
Heather (Heather's Dish)
April 29, 2011 at 5:02 ami didn’t know anything could be better than fried, but these sound fantastic! i’ve never really experienced a lot of artichoke love in my life, but methinks that needs to change asap and this is the recipe to do it!
Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons
April 29, 2011 at 5:07 amThis sounds so completely delicious! Bookmarked! =)
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
April 29, 2011 at 5:08 amI’ve never tried fried artichokes (normally I just eat the canned hearts) but these sound amazing!! Bookmarked!
Erin
April 29, 2011 at 5:17 amI love love love fried artichokes!
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out
April 29, 2011 at 5:29 amGeez, that looks AMAZING!!!!
Jessica @ How Sweet
April 29, 2011 at 5:38 amObsessed with artichokes. YUM!
Christie {Nourishing Circle}
April 29, 2011 at 5:38 amI would like there to be a like button for comments because I would “like” Heather’s comment if I could. 😀 This looks awesome if for no other reason than having something to dip in aoli.
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
April 29, 2011 at 5:39 amI love artichokes, I need to make these!
Meghan @ StruggleMuffins
April 29, 2011 at 5:57 amI’ve never heard of such a thing but I’m pretty jazzed that you created and shared a healthified version – I’d love to make these and crumble atop a big salad for a lil’ cheesy flava, a lil’ crisp and crunch 🙂
Marisa @ Loser for Life
April 29, 2011 at 6:00 amGreat idea, Jenna! Love the dipping sauce!
Molly
April 29, 2011 at 6:07 amArtichokes are my new current interest! Being a dietitian makes this acceptable-otherwise I myself would wonder if I were a spinnster.
kalli
April 29, 2011 at 6:09 amoh i have had the real thing at a stand outside of monterey many moons ago and they were to die for!
Holly @ The Runny Egg
April 29, 2011 at 6:10 amThose look so good. I’ve never bought fresh artichokes to eat at home– I usually get canned or I get them when we go out to eat.
Kath
April 29, 2011 at 6:10 amLOVE the Royal Wedding newspaper placement!
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
April 29, 2011 at 6:31 amYummy…I’ve never even had an artichoke…let alone a baked one with all that cheesy goodness. They look so pretty too. Great recipe 😉
Cait @ Beyond Bananas
April 29, 2011 at 6:32 amThanks for sharing – this recipe looks great! I love artichokes.. I’ve never heard of fried artichokes tho.. and what a nice little healthy alternative you have given us!
Happy Friday!
Jen @ keepitsimplefoods
April 29, 2011 at 6:36 amWow, this looks amazing! YUM!
Kelli H
April 29, 2011 at 6:57 amI have never heard of this but yours look amazing. I’m definitely more into baked than fried. This would be a perfect appetizer for a party.
Colie @ phillie foodnatic
April 29, 2011 at 7:14 amI live in PA and we don’t have these anywhere around here! They sound FANTASTIC! I am super excited to try this recipe.
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food
April 29, 2011 at 7:17 amso genius! 🙂
I love anything that is better than fried because I love the taste of many fried dishes but just can’t stomach the heaviness of more than a couple bites.
So delish!
Maria
April 29, 2011 at 7:18 amI’m always looking for new ways to prepare veggies. I’ll have to try these out and report back!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
April 29, 2011 at 7:20 amJust so you know, they stretch beyond LA to San Diego, the forgotten SoCal city! 🙂 I just moved to Portland from San Diego and when I saw the title of this post, my heart skipped a beat. I LOVE THESE THINGS. Amazing balls.
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
April 29, 2011 at 7:20 amJust so you know, they stretch beyond LA to San Diego, the forgotten SoCal city! 🙂 I just moved to Portland from San Diego and when I saw the title of this post, my heart skipped a beat. I LOVE THESE THINGS. Amazing balls.
Maria
April 29, 2011 at 7:20 amThese look so good! Can’t wait to make them and get dipping!
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
April 29, 2011 at 7:22 amMmm. Artichokes were featured in my latest Cooking Light mag. Taught me how to get to the heart of the artichoke. I had no idea, as I have never cooked with them. Now that I know how this is a great recipe to try it out on!
kristina@beancakes
April 29, 2011 at 7:27 amMmmm, these looks so good. i absolutely LOVE artichokes.
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
April 29, 2011 at 7:42 amalso very useful since i dont own my own deep frier! these look awesome :).
jenna
April 29, 2011 at 7:55 amthese look delish!!! i’ve never had fried artichoke .
Megan@Dirty Dishes Daily
April 29, 2011 at 7:55 amI have always had a love hate relantionship with artichokes. It’s either I love the way they are prepared or I hate it. I think I can love this one.
Lindsey@Lindselicious
April 29, 2011 at 7:57 amYum, I do the same with cauliflower but artichoke hearts are brilliant! Love you dipping sauce too.
Justeen @ Blissful Baking
April 29, 2011 at 8:11 amI’ve never had fried artichokes, but these DO look better! I like anything super crispy + crunchy! Yum 🙂
Moni'sMeals
April 29, 2011 at 8:16 amwhhhat! I am slow I guess. This is a brilliant idea. I would eat this everyday! Thanks becaise I will make this tonight!!! yum yum.
Jesse
April 29, 2011 at 8:32 amsounds as important of a discovery as avocado fries. aka life changing.
Lucy @ The Sweet Touch
April 29, 2011 at 8:48 amI’ve never tried a fried artichoke but now these are on my list of things to make! I love that you added cheese with the panko!
I just posted a recipe for crispy “fried” avocado salad a couple days ago. So yum!
Kim
April 29, 2011 at 8:33 amI’m definitely making these!
Michelle | GOLD-HEARTED GIRL
April 29, 2011 at 8:33 amI’ve never had them, and I live in CA. Shame. They look delicious.
http://goldhearted.etsy.com
R @ Learning As I Chop
April 29, 2011 at 8:45 amWow, do those ever look amazing
Sonia (the Mexigarian)
April 29, 2011 at 8:53 amMy husband is going to LOVE these. We might just have to swing by Castroville and pick us up some artichokes! I love the healthy touch. 🙂
Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet
April 29, 2011 at 9:14 amAnything deep fried is delicious. And these would be perfect with spinach artichoke dip!
Love you royal wedding newspaper background!! What did you think about the wedding???
hippierunner
April 29, 2011 at 9:16 amI’m a California girl and I’ve never heard of these…I’ll have to trust you!
Ruth
April 29, 2011 at 9:53 amWow! I’ve never heard of such a thing either, but boy have you made me want some!!
Cassie
April 29, 2011 at 9:54 amFried artichoke hearts!! How delicious sounding. I love artichoke hearts but often get tired of them in pasta dishes, and I don’t really enjoy them when they’re cold in salads. Breaded and baked sounds like a great new way to try!
Natalia - a side of simple
April 29, 2011 at 9:56 amI tried artichoke for the first time last week when I was home for Easter. I’m currently forwarding this recipe to my mom. I expect her to be in the kitchen baking away for me for my celebratory graduation affair, and I’m begging for these to be on the menu!
Krystina (Organically Me)
April 29, 2011 at 10:11 amI find artichokes to be one of the most gorgeous vegetables.
I sometimes buy baby artichokes because they’re entirely edible and just precious to look at.
Brooke @ bittersweetb
April 29, 2011 at 10:52 amThese sound awesome! Being from the east coast I’ve never seen or heard of a fried artichoke but I think its genius!
French Heart
April 29, 2011 at 11:24 amFantastic photos! Light, airy, crunchy with an artichoke in it and aioli on the side? That’s why it’s called ‘The Golden State’. Forever dreaming up the stuff of the gods. 😉
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
April 29, 2011 at 11:47 amSuch a great idea! I hadn’t heard of the fried version, but these sound good to me.
Keri R.
April 29, 2011 at 11:51 amI can not wait to try these! I love artichokes! I have never really gotten into eating the canned ones though!
Sometimes I think that if I were to do my wedding over again I would walk down the aisle with a bouquet of artichokes!
Olivia
April 29, 2011 at 12:21 pmJenna, I’m eating your channa masala for lunch right this moment. THANK YOU!
Becca@start over from scratch
April 29, 2011 at 1:06 pmOMG! These sound so good! I’m going to be making these asap! yum! For a b&p gradate you sure are good on the culinary side! Any wineries out there looking for interns in their kitchens and the fields?
Lauren
April 29, 2011 at 1:49 pmThese look incredibly delicious!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
April 29, 2011 at 2:06 pmArtichokes fried dipped in aioli?! Yes please!
Happy When Not Hungry
April 29, 2011 at 4:03 pmI love artichokes and frying them sounds amazing!!! I definitely will be trying this. Yum!
Charise
May 3, 2011 at 11:31 amholy yum! i must try these asap!
Kimberly
May 6, 2011 at 4:44 pmMade these tonight! Actually I am eating them right now and they are delish. 🙂 Used half panko/half Italian bread crumbs and for the aioli I used mayo, lemon, and sugar (this sounds gross, but its what I always dip the steamed or grilled artichokes in that I make). I have had fried artichokes, and will continue to get them, but I don’t like frying stuff at home so this recipe will happily fill in for the mean time. Thank you for sharing!
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Jamie
May 12, 2011 at 3:14 pmI am enjoying these delicious artichokes as I type. So delicious and the aioli is the perfect touch.
Angelica
June 29, 2011 at 5:21 amI really envy your ability to come up with a recipe by just sitting down and figuring something out. This recipe is awesome btw and I’ve tried it!
Crystal
August 27, 2011 at 3:09 pmJust made these following the recipe to the tee – they are so delicious!
Deia
November 21, 2011 at 3:16 pmI stumbled upon this recipe off of Pinterest and made them for a small gathering the other night – AMAZING! Everyone loved them, they were gone in seconds. I only had 1 🙁
Lisa
January 19, 2013 at 4:36 amI made these last night for company. They were so easy and so delicious! Thanks for the great recipe!
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February 21, 2013 at 7:01 am[…] they were yummy. I didn’t make them, so I offered up the appetizer. I knew when I saw this recipe on Eat Live Run for Better than Fried Artichoke Hearts with Quick Aioli Dipping Sauce that I HAD to […]
Julie V.
March 13, 2013 at 5:24 pmHi Jenna! I just made these tonight for supper and they turned out awesome! I did add some sriracha sauce to the aioli for an extra kick (who doesn’t, right?!). Thanks for such a great recipe, it’s me new go-to for a vegetarian dinner.
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Jodi
July 10, 2013 at 8:21 pm*giggle* Not quite San Francisco to LA…more like Watsonville to Salinas, which are only a half hour apart. Very local. Lifelong California girl and I’d never heard of them either til I moved to the area. Your baked version sounds amazing. Better than the original since it shouldn’t be greasy. Can’t wait to try it!
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Tracy
April 27, 2014 at 4:46 pmThere is a restaurant in Kansas City, MO that makes a sweet red pepper aioli that makes fried ‘choke hearts even BETTER. But haven’t been able to recreate the aioli. These sound amazing, so will be experimenting. Think Frankenstein had a lab? Watch me CREATE!
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