1 Ingredient, 5 Ways: Artichokes

Artichokes are a tricky beast aren't they? They're a delicious ingredient with the added bonus of great health benefits, and yet they somehow always seem to end up at the back of fridge. Let's stop this nonsense and save those artichokes!

Here are just a few of the reasons you should mix artichokes into your regular dinner rotation:

• Proven to effectively fight cholesterol
• Improves liver function
• Excellent source of folic acid, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K
• Also a rich source of minerals, such as potassium, copper and iron
• Low in calories and fat, but a great source of dietary fibre

Iowa Girl Eats: Chicken, Bacon and Artichoke Pasta with Creamy Garlic Sauce

Iowa Girl Eats uses marinated artichoke hearts in this creamy pasta dish. The supporting flavours include bacon, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. We have one word for this recipe: yummy!

Photo by Iowa Girl Eats

Click here for the full recipe.

Cooking on the Weekends: The Ultimate Stuffed Artichoke

Cooking on the Weekends has stuffed her artichokes with breadcrumbs, shallots and garlic and dressed it with lemon butter and white-wine. This is a simple way to use a fresh artichoke and make it over-the-top delicious.

Photo by Cooking on the Weekends

Click here for the full recipe.

Wonky Wonderful: Artichoke & Roasted Garlic Dip

Did you think we could write a post on artichokes without including an artichoke dip? Paired with roasted garlic and enveloped in delicious melted cheese, this dip is sure to delight everyone at the table. 

Photo by Wonky Wonderful

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Half Baked Harvest: Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

Half Baked Harvest has paired spinach, artichoke, basil and pine-nuts with beautifully gooey mozzarella and blue cheese - it looks heavenly!

Photo by Half Baked Harvest

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foodie crush: Tortellini Soup with Artichokes

We love this soup because it can be on the dinner table in under 30 minutes, which makes it absolutely perfect for a weeknight dinner. The three-cheese tortellini and garbanzo beans pack a filling punch, and the artichokes, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes offer a nice array of veggies. And of course you can't go wrong when the soup is topped off with a little freshly grated parmesan.

Photo by foodie crush

Click here for the full recipe.