California Artichoke Advisory Board
A garbanzo dip is a good way to try your first artichoke.

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Don’t judge an artichoke
by its cover

Have you ever wondered who the brave soul was who first ate an artichoke? It's appearance -- thorn-tipped, fibrous petals packed together tightly--is formidable. But beneath those poky leaves, hidden under the white-yellow fuzz, is a delicate morsel whose earthy flavor defies comparison to any other vegetable.

Artichokes at their simplest are boiled or steamed. Trim off the top and rub cut areas with lemon juice. Place artichokes top side down into about 2 inches of water. Add a garlic clove, a squeeze of lemon or a small piece of lemon peel and a bay leaf to the water. Cook 45 minutes to an hour. The leaves are pulled off and their lower ends dipped in butter and drawn through the teeth to remove the edible portion.

Several Oahu markets offer bargains on artichokes this week: Foodland has them at 98 cents each with Maika'i card; Safeway, $1.89 each; Star, 69 cents each; Sack N Save, 97 cents.

Artichoke with garbanzo dip

4 prepared artichokes
1 can (15-1/2 ounces) reduced sodium garbanzo beans
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
3 tablespoons sliced green onion
1/4 teaspoon crushed, dried oregano

Drain garbanzo beans, reserving 6 tablespoons of liquid. In blender or food processor, place garbanzo beans, reserved liquid, lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. Cover and process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in lemon peel, parsley, green onion and oregano. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Makes 1-1/2 cups.

Cabbages are also bargains this week: Chinese cabbage is 89 cents a pound (with Royal card) at Times; white stem and mustard cabbage are 99 cents a pound at Foodland, $1.19 at Star, 78 cents at Daiei and 37 cents at Sack N Save; isle-grown head cabbage is 59 cents a pound at Safeway (with card), 69 cents at Times, 38 cents at Daiei and 37 cents at Sack N Save.