Artichoke Hearts with Curry
Artichokes are considered one of the world’s oldest foods. They are native to the Mediterranean area and are a member of the sunflower family. The ancestor of the artichoke is the North African thistle, which still grows in the wild today. Artichokes were first harvested by people in the Middle East.
The artichoke gained most of its popularity in ancient Rome and Greece around 70 A.D. Artichokes remained popular until the fall of the Roman Empire. It was not until the 1400s when they regained popularity in Florence, Italy. Their popularity spread, and by the 1500s they were being eaten throughout France.
Artichokes originally came to the United States in the early 1800s when French immigrants started growing the vegetable in the Louisiana territory. It wasn’t until the early 1900s when the artichoke became a US success. Italian immigrants in California started growing artichokes and selling them commercially. Today, California grows nearly 100 percent of all the artichokes sold in the US.
2 jars of artichoke hearts
1 leak (the white part)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
¼ teaspoon coriander
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 chopped garlic Clove
¾ cup white wine
5 fl oz Coconut Milk
Fresh Chopped Cilantro
1. Cut the white part of the leak in fine slices.
2. Sautee Leak and garlic in a deep pan with olive oil for a few minutes.
3. Add curry powder, coriander, salt, white wine, and coconut milk, let it simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add drained artichoke hearts and let it simmer for about 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
5. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro.
6. Serve with brown rice or quinoa.
Marta Díaz Megías was born and raised in Madrid, Spain and is as an official Translator/Interpreter from the Catholic University of Paris. She has always had a personal passion for cooking and started her own catering company in Madrid, and taught cooking courses for several years as well. Marta now lives in Southern California and loves promoting Spanish cuisine.