The 9 best artichoke substitutes for your recipes
Artichokes are from the family of composite flowers and are very popular in recipes from the Old Continent. The leaves and hearts are the edible parts of the plants.and they can be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, stewed, fried or roasted.
In some situations, you may run out of artichoke, and want an artichoke substitute that provides a similar flavor or texture. It is also possible that you do not like artichokes so much in the same place, but you want to prepare a recipe that contains this vegetable as the main ingredient.
This is where our guide to artichoke substitutes comes in handy, so let’s dive into it.
The best artichoke substitutes
Artichokes are truly versatile, and their flavor and texture will differ depending on how you decide to cook and serve them.
Artichokes can be eaten on their own or added as a thickening ingredient to your dish. That’s why there are many options that can work if you’re trying to substitute artichokes in your recipes.
Although some people pickle and eat the leaves, most eat the hearts of the artichokes. The heart is surrounded by petals, which contain small spines that soften when cooked. In some cases, when small artichokes are eaten, the entire vegetable is eaten.
Artichokes are sold fresh, frozen, or canned. Some people choose to buy the hearts plain, because you can cut down on prep time and go straight to cooking.
You can use artichokes in many different dishes. Add artichokes to your pizza, use them on pasta, combine them with other vegetables in ratatouille, or chop them to add to your frittata or omelette mix.
You can also fry or grill the artichoke hearts, or sauté them to create a great garnish for your steak or grilled chicken. When cooked longer, artichokes pair well with your goat cheese sandwich.
Artichoke hearts can be baked or stuffed, but you can also serve them raw in your salad after drizzling them with your favorite sauce.
If you don’t have enough artichokes for your recipe or don’t like their texture and flavor, there are plenty of artichoke substitutes you can experiment with.
Each artichoke substitute serves a specific culinary purpose, so you can explore the versatile options on our list to find the one that’s right for you.
1. Cardon
The cardón or thistle is a vegetable that looks similar to celery, but tastes just like the artichoke when chopped. You can use it on top of your pizza or as a complement to your gratin cheese and other baked dishes.
Cardón contains vitamin C, vitamin B and calcium, so it will be a tasty and healthy addition to your recipes. However, it is not useful if you want to prepare a sauce or broth because it does not have the same texture as artichokes. It cannot be eaten raw either.
2. Asparagus
Asparagus is a fine vegetable that can be prepared in multiple ways. It can be fried, sautéed or chopped and added to your ratatouille if you want to replace the artichokes.
This vegetable is rich in iron and vitamin C, so it will keep your recipe healthy. Due to its color, you can add asparagus to salads instead of artichokes to balance the colors of other ingredients.
It has a slightly sharper flavor that resembles broccoli, but will do if you’re not so into the taste of artichoke hearts. It can also become the main ingredient in a sandwich or an omelette to add a bit of flavor to your dish.
3. Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be sautéed, roasted, sautéed, and oven-roasted, but most importantly, they can substitute for artichoke hearts when you don’t have enough.
Brussels sprouts are very rich in vitamin C. They are also rich in vitamin B-6 and calcium, so they are the perfect complement if you want to make your dishes healthier.
Because they taste a bit spicy, Brussels sprouts are great for those who don’t like the taste of artichokes. The crispy exterior and buttery interior make Brussels sprouts the perfect substitute for artichoke hearts in recipes that call for a longer cook time.
4. Bamboo shoots
The edible parts of the bamboo shoots can perfectly substitute the edible parts of the artichoke in various recipes. They’re crunchy with a bit of an earthy, nutty flavor, and in that sense, they’re a lot like artichoke hearts in flavor.
Bamboo shoots contain several nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B-6. They can be served raw, sliced and braised, or roasted to replace artichokes in a garnish. They can also be pureed or added to sauces instead of artichokes.
We recommend that you use young bamboo shoots because they are sweeter and crunchier. When they get too old, they get too bitter. You can get fresh bamboo shoots or buy canned ones, but fresh ones have better flavor and texture.
5. Jerusalem artichoke
If you don’t like the taste of artichoke hearts, you can use Jerusalem artichokes instead. It only shares the name with artichokes, but its flavor is very different from that of the more common artichoke.
Jerusalem artichokes have a mild, sweet, and slightly nutty flavor, so they will work well in recipes that call for the use of raw artichokes. They are rich in iron, vitamin C, phosphorus and potassium, so you will have a tasty dish full of healthy nutrients.
You can use this artichoke substitute if you need something that provides the same texture with a slightly different flavor. You can sauté or roast Jerusalem artichokes, and they will taste crunchy and delicious.
6. The heart of palm
Heart of palm is a vegetable that is collected from certain types of palm trees. It has a flavor that resembles that of artichoke hearts, so it can be a perfect substitute for artichoke hearts in sauces and sauces.
You can use this tasty substitute to make your recipes healthier, since it contains more than 50% of the necessary daily amount of potassium. It is also rich in vitamin C and vitamin B-6.
When cooked, its tender flesh will make a great addition to your sauces and purées. It can also be stir-fried or even served in a salad.
7. Chayote squash
Chayote squash has a mild flavor and is a bit crunchy. It’s quite sweet, so it’s the perfect addition to any dish that calls for artichokes without changing the flavor or texture of your recipe.
Being rich in vitamin C, chayote squash will be a great and healthy way to substitute artichoke hearts in a recipe if your kids don’t like the taste of it.
Chayote can be pureed into a stew or added to a sauce to provide the necessary richness and creaminess. You can also serve it raw in place of the raw artichoke hearts in the salad.
8. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi, also known as German turnip, can be the perfect substitute for artichoke hearts, whether served raw, grilled, roasted, or used in a sauce.
This superfood is high in vitamin C but low in calories, making it a healthy substitute for artichoke hearts. When served raw, it tastes like raw cabbage, which belongs to the same family. It has more flavor than artichoke, which is naturally earthier and nuttier.
However, when cooked, it can be a perfect substitute for artichokes. The smaller bulbs have a milder flavor, so you can use them in salads, stews, or lightly sautéed. If you cook the kohlrabi a bit longer, it can substitute for the artichoke in sauces and dips.
9. Broccoli Stems
After cutting the florets, most people throw away the broccoli stems. However, broccoli stems can perfectly replace artichokes in your dishes if they are prepared well.
Broccoli stalks represent the immature part of the flower, so they taste just like the flower, but are slightly fresher and greener. They’re soft and sweet, but they’re not as nutty as artichokes, so they’ll work if you’re not so into the taste of artichoke hearts.
Like florets, broccoli stems are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and iron. They can be chopped into salads or added to sandwiches. You can cook them steamed, grilled or sautéed. You can also add them to the gratin or any other baked dish instead of the artichokes.
How to choose an artichoke substitute
When choosing the right artichoke substitute, you have to think about your recipe. The cooking method and cooking time will significantly influence your choice when selecting from various artichoke alternatives.
The cardón tastes very similar to the artichoke, but it cannot be eaten raw or added to the sauce, since it would change its texture. If you want to substitute the artichoke in a salad, you can opt for asparagus, hearts of palm, bamboo shoots, chayote squash, kohlrabi or broccoli stems.
For a stir-fry or stir-fry, you can substitute Jerusalem artichoke, Brussels sprouts, or broccoli stems for the artichoke. They can also be steamed or grilled.
Asparagus and broccoli stems can be added to your sandwich, but if you want an artichoke substitute that adds texture and creaminess to your sauce or dip, we recommend trying chayote squash.
Cooking is about trying new ingredients and exploring new flavors. So next time you’re short on artichokes, we encourage you to experiment with these alternatives and see what works for you.