This Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes recipe is ultra-easy to make, full of great flavor, and super-speedy in your pressure cooker!
Since moving to Barcelona, we’ve been exploring local markets and returning with bags of fresh produce. One thing we always bring home is artichokes. They’ve become a staple for us here — plentiful, inexpensive, and perfect for quick dinners.
On our first market trips we were surprised by how cheap artichokes are in Spain compared with what we used to pay in the U.S. We bought a big bunch, intending to steam them the traditional way, only to discover our furnished rental kitchen lacked a pot large enough for steaming. Luckily, my Instant Pot had just arrived, so we tried steaming them in the pressure cooker — and it was a revelation.
The Instant Pot makes steaming artichokes faster and even simpler than stovetop steaming while preserving their tender, flavorful heart and leaves. After several successful batches, I now reach for the Instant Pot every time. If you love artichokes or want to try them for the first time, this method is worth trying.
Start by trimming however many fresh artichokes you plan to cook. In a 6-quart Instant Pot you can usually fit 4–5 medium artichokes in a single layer, though your pot and artichoke sizes may vary. If you need guidance on selecting and trimming artichokes, see tutorials or videos on how to prepare them. The prep steps before and after cooking are the same whether you steam on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot.
To steam in the Instant Pot, place a steamer basket inside the pot and add about 1 cup of water, a few garlic cloves, and a bay leaf. Rub a lemon wedge over the trimmed artichokes to add flavor and slow browning, then toss the lemon wedge into the water. Arrange the artichokes in a single layer in the basket — stem-up or stem-down both work — and close the lid. Set the vent to sealing.
Cook on Manual at High Pressure for 10 minutes for medium artichokes (12 minutes for very large ones). When the cook time is finished, perform a quick release by carefully turning the vent to venting and waiting until the pressure has fully released and the valve drops. Open the lid and remove the artichokes with tongs.
You’ll have perfectly steamed artichokes in under 30 minutes from start to finish: tender leaves and a soft heart, ready to eat with your favorite dipping sauce.
For tips on how to eat artichokes and suggested dipping sauces, see the notes below. And as we like to say at our artichoke nights here in Spain — ¡buen provecho!
Instant Pot Steamed Artichokes
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 bay leaf
- 2-4 fresh large artichokes, trimmed
- 1 fresh lemon wedge
- dipping sauce (see options below)
Instructions
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Pour the water, garlic cloves, and bay leaf into the Instant Pot and place the steamer basket in the bottom of the pot.
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Rub the lemon wedge over the outside of the trimmed artichokes to add flavor and prevent browning. Place the artichokes in a single layer in the steamer basket and toss the lemon wedge into the water. Close the lid and set the vent to “Sealing”.
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Select Manual, choose High Pressure, and set the time to 10 minutes (12 minutes for extra-large artichokes). When cooking is done, carefully turn the vent to “Venting” for a quick release. Wait until the pressure has fully released and the valve drops, then remove the lid.
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Use tongs to remove the artichokes, serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, and enjoy.
Notes
Dipping Sauce Ideas:
- Lemony Melted Butter: Melt salted butter, stir in a squeeze of fresh lemon, season with salt and pepper. For extra flavor, sauté a minced garlic clove in the butter for a minute before serving.
- Hollandaise: A blender hollandaise makes an easy, rich sauce.
- Tzatziki: A cool, Mediterranean-style yogurt-cucumber dip pairs nicely.
- Mayonnaise or aioli variations also work well.
- Use any dipping sauce you enjoy.
Additional Info
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!