Norwood CSA Food Co-op: Ode to the Globe Artichoke

by Kristine Paulus

The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda wrote about a peculiar “armed vegetable” in one of his elemental odes, Ode to the Artichoke. In the piece, the artichoke is personified as a hardened soldier. While the poem can be interpreted several ways, on the surface the verse is dedicated to the delicious Mediterranean vegetable that has delightfully appeared in our recent CSA shares.

This spiny vegetable comes from a plant species scientifically known as Cynara cardunculus (Scolymus Group) and commonly called globe artichoke. The edible part is the young flower head. When full open, the large and showy tubular flowers look familiarly like a thistle, and in fact, it is a type of thistle. Plants cultivated for food are rarely allowed to reach the flowering phase and when they do, the open flowers aren’t particularly edible – but they are quite ornamental. Species grown purely for ornamental purposes are known as cardoons. Both are adored by pollinators and are often buzzing with bees (there is a cardoon growing in Bainbridge Avenue Garden – check it out the next time you pick up your CSA!).

The spiny outer scales are known as bracts and are modified leaves (they are sometimes erroneously described as petals). The bracts and tender inner heart are a delectable delicacy. The armor of outer bracts acts to protect the heart and flower buds. These make them rather intimidating the kitchen! I like growing and eating them far more than I like preparing them. I find that steaming is the easiest way to cook them and follow these steps on Simply Recipes:

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cook_and_eat_an_artichoke/