Creamy Artichoke Salmon and Greens

Do you remember the first time you had artichokes? What did you think of them? Did you like them right away? Or was it like an acquired situation where you ended up liking them because you got used to them? Or do you not care for them at all? I feel like artichokes are a polarizing vegetable, you know, where people either love or they hate them.

A bit of background information, I’m Filipina. We don’t eat artichokes. Growing up, artichokes were definitely not a staple in our household. To be honest, I don’t think I ever really knew what an artichoke looked like, I just knew they existed. So at 19 years old, I had my first endeavor with artichokes. It was at Leona's, an Italian restaurant in my hometown of Chicago. The roasted artichoke was stuffed with parmesan garlic breading and served with lemon aioli. As much as I love cheese and mayonnaise, I was NOT impressed with this dish, but I ate it anyway. I'm the type to finish what's on my plate, unless it's absolutely dreadful.

As the years past, I was introduced to more artichoke dishes, seeing them served on salads, pizzas, pastas, etc. I liked artichokes, but I didn’t love them. And to be honest, I could never put a finger on what it was I didn’t like about them.

As a clean-eating chef, I aspire to love artichokes! I think most people tend to ignore them because they're oddly shaped and they can't figure out how to cook them. For those at-home cooks who would like to try them with little to no effort of preparation, you can find pre-cooked artichokes in a can/bottle at the grocery store. So when I decided to pursue my quest for artichoke fandom yet again, I thought to myself, "What if I blended these already cooked artichokes and turn them into a puree?" So I threw them into my Cuisinart food processor, and to my surprise, they turned out soft, delicious, and creamy to the touch! I then realized what I didn’t like about artichokes! I didn't like the TEXTURE, not the flavor! The flavor is amazing! They also have great health benefits like anti-oxidants, fiber, and aid with liver function! It's a win-win!

I figured if I didn’t like the texture, other people may not either. However, they would certainly enjoy this tasty creamy artichoke puree just as much as I!

So here you have it. Creamy Artichoke Salmon and Greens! This recipe is so easy, you’re going to love it. Please pay attention to the ingredients list as it is separated into components of the recipe. Side note: this recipe would pair well with a serving of roasted fingerling potatoes!

Full ingredient list can be found after the recipe! Enjoy!

Ingredients and Method for Salmon 1 lb salmon 3/4 Teaspoon Himalayan Salt 2 pinches of Black Pepper 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 small onion, sliced Zest and juice of half of a lemon. 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. 3. Prepare garlic and onion as listed above. 4. Place the salmon on top of the baking sheet. Zest and juice the lemon half all over the salmon. 5. Distribute onion and garlic evenly over the salmon. Sprinkle the salmon with salt and pepper. 6. Bake the salmon in the oven for 18 minutes

While the salmon is cooking, let’s prepare the artichoke puree!

Ingredients and Method of Artichokes

1 can of artichokes plus half the amount of liquid in the can

1 garlic clove

¼ cup white onion

¼ teaspoon salt

A pinch of black pepper

Zest of one lemon

Throw everything together in a food processor and blend until artichokes are broken down into a soft puree, but not blended so much to where it becomes a soup.

Extra Ingredients

4 cups of greens

1 ½ cups of grape tomatoes sliced in half

Assembly of dish:

2- 4 tablespoons of artichoke puree scooped onto a plate

1 cup of greens on top of the puree

¼ pound of salmon on top of the greens

Place a few of the onion slices cooked with the salmon on the plate

A few grape tomatoes scattered throughout the dish

Yields: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 23- 25 minutes

Optional toppings:

Avocado slices

Pumpkin seeds

Balsamic vinegar drizzle

Chopped fresh basil

Full Ingredient List

1 lb salmon 3 cloves of garlic 2 small onions

1 can of artichokes

2 lemons

4 cups of greens

1 ½ cups of grape tomatoes sliced in half

Himalayan Salt

Black Pepper