Whole Baby Artichokes in Olive Oil
Baby artichokes are one of the finest of all Italian appetisers. Whole or sliced, they are always to be found alongside sliced hams and salami.
The artichokes should be small, fleshy and flavourful. They are thoroughly cleaned and cooked in vinegar before being preserved in oil with various flavourings.
There are other ways of preserving them, in vinegar or brine, but oil is one of the preferred methods.
The artichoke probably originated in North Africa (although some believe it came from Sicily). Its use in Mediterranean cuisine has ancient origins, although it was first mentioned in written records in the second half of the 15th century. The artichoke was a great favourite at European courts, and for several centuries it was also renowned as an aphrodisiac.
The territory: Puglia
One of Italy’s southernmost regions, Puglia is a tourist destination with a great coastline and natural beauty, and over the years has become renowned for its food and wine, attracting tourists with its regional specialities. Inhabited since ancient times, its glory days were during the Romanic period, as churches, monasteries and even castles sprang up all over the region.
Pugliese cuisine is still considered “humble” yet has an ancient tradition in which farming traditions have merged with seafaring customs. The food is closely linked to the terrain, luxuriant and gently rolling over almost the entire region. There are three key ingredients: wine, flour and olive oil. The various types of Pugliese pasta have broken free of their regional restrictions and spread throughout Italy, although the existence of homemade pasta makers has preserved the traditional varieties such as the very well-known orecchiette, but also strascinati, cavatelli, and fusilli…
Pugliese wine also has ancient origins. The best-known include Primitivo di Manduria, Moscato di Trani and Salice Salentino, although Puglia has a great many appellations controlees - the list is still growing and there are many treasures still waiting to be discovered.
Have you tried Whole Baby Artichokes in Olive Oil ? Tell us what you think in the comments section!
Ingredients: artichokes 62%, olive oil, wine vinegar, salt, natural flavourings. Acidity corrector: citric acid. Antioxidant: ascorbic acid.
