Artichokes can be a tricky vegetable to find a sauce pairing with. It’s not like chicken sauces or scallop sauces, where classic options come into play. These delicious little green treats need a sauce that encompasses every inch of its natural flavor. Luckily, I’ve got some perfect ones you can use. Whatever the dish may be, I’ve got the best sauces for artichokes that are mouthwatering and easy to make.
The best sauces for artichokes are lemon butter sauce, honey balsamic vinaigrette, chipotle mayo dip, and basil pesto sauce. But these aren’t all the artichoke sauces you can make, so let’s dive in!
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🧑🍳 How to Cook Artichokes
Boiling Artichokes – Boiling infuses the artichoke with moisture, giving them soft and succulent texture.
Steaming Artichokes – Steaming provides a gentler cooking method while preserving the natural flavors and nutrients of the artichoke.
Frying Artichokes – Frying artichokes is a great cooking method because it creates a crispy and golden exterior that gives way to a tender and flavorful interior.
📌 Popular Artichoke Dishes
Artichoke Parmesan: This dish bakes artichoke hearts with a layer of marinara sauce and a topping of melted Parmesan cheese for a satisfying and cheesy vegetarian blend.
Artichoke and Spinach Stuffed Chicken: This recipe uses stuffs chicken breasts with a mixture of artichoke hearts, spinach, and cheese for a baked/grilled fusion of flavors.
Artichoke Risotto: A creamy risotto cooked with artichoke hearts, onions, garlic, and white wine makes for a rich and comforting dish.
Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza: Artichokes can make for a tasty pizza sauce swap with an artichoke heart, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil flavor fusion.
💡 Best Artichoke Sauces
Lemon Butter Sauce
An elegant classic with all the flavor and none of the hassle. A lemon butter sauce is a truly simple but delicious blend of lemon, butter, and a pinch of salt. The richness of the butter, the tang and citrusy flavor of lemon, and the dash of cool, fresh herbs. It can’t get more flavorful and simple than that. You can even toss in some garlic to create a garlic lemon butter sauce that’s even more delicious.
Garlic Aioli
This thick and creamy delight is perfect for coating artichokes in. A garlic aioli is a simple whisk mix of mayonnaise, finely minced garlic, and dash of olive oil. This blend gives a lush and savory dip that’s so tasty, creamy, and rich to make, it’s perfect for the subtle taste of steamed or grilled artichokes.
Yogurt Dressing
A yogurt dressing is a superb choice for those who like a milder and lighter alternative. It’s something that pairs with many, if not all, artichoke dishes as it has a basic but perfect blend of rich creaminess and herby deliciousness. The sauce uses a blend of Greek yogurt, olive oil, and lemon juice. Greek yogurt is one of the easiest ways to thicken yogurt sauce, so it’ll make for a great base for the dressing.
Tarragon-Chive Dipping Sauce
The creamy zing, the refreshing oniony taste, and a nice subtle sweetness, it’s unbeatable! The tarragon-chive dipping sauce is one of the creamiest and tastiest sauces for artichokes. This blend of fresh tarragon, chives, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and a squeeze of lemon juice is the artichoke sauce you’ve been looking for.
Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
Now, this is a pungent and delicious blend that brings everything together. You just can’t go wrong with this sweet, sweet combination. Honey balsamic vinaigrette has a zesty balsamic tang with slightly acidic and sweet notes. This comes from the refreshing mixture of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and honey.
Sweet Raspberry Sauce
This delicious, sweet raspberry sauce takes a step back from the savory norm. You can’t get better than turning your fried and crispy artichoke into a fantastic sweet treat. The fresh raspberries, sugar, and a splash of lemon juice combine to coat the artichokes with a red sheen of sweet and fruity flavors.
Honey Mustard Sauce
The honey mustard sauce. It’s known to all as one the tastiest sauces around, and for good reason. It’s a simple yet purely delicious blend of honey, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and vinegar. Perfect for dunking or coating your artichokes in. You can even pick these sauces up from McDonald’s sauce selection and KFC’s sauce lineup for that splash of your favorite classic flavors.
Sesame Ginger Soy Dip
If you need that splash of umami richness, the sesame ginger soy sauce is exactly what you need. Its savory umami richness, paired with the nutty goodness of sesame oil, is a flavor that every artichoke should be paired with. The soy sauce, sesame oil, and fresh ginger mixture make it one of the simplest sauces for artichokes.
Chipotle Mayo Dipping Sauce
How about a spicy, smoky, and creamy sauce that coats your artichokes in layers of flavor? The chipotle mayo dipping sauce is the pinnacle of flavorful sauces for artichokes. Its mayonnaise, chipotle peppers, and lime juice blend gives it that perfectly smoky flavor, a hint of sweetness, and a creamy tang. You can try making this sauce with different substitutes for chipotle pepper if you can’t find the pepper.
Basil Pesto Sauce
Basil pesto sauce is the perfect home cook sauce for artichokes. The delicious nutty blend and fresh and herby flavor profile make for the perfect dip and sauce coating. This super simple blend uses only fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese for that superb refreshing flavor. Just a dollop will make any artichoke dish better!
🧐 FAQs
Yes, artichokes are a healthy addition to your diet. They are low in calories and fat, high in fiber, and packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
The most common artichoke variety is the globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus). It’s prized for its tender, meaty leaves and flavorful heart.
One of the easiest artichoke sauces to make is a simple lemon garlic sauce. Just sauté minced garlic in olive oil until fragrant. Add some fresh lemon juice and a splash of vegetable broth then simmer.
For a mayo-free option, consider serving artichokes with a lemon butter sauce. This is made by melting butter and mixing it with fresh lemon juice and minced garlic.