Vigo Artichoke Hearts - How and Why You Should Enjoy Them

I'm sure you have all seen artichokes in the store and have probably even tried them. I do enjoy steaming a nice artichoke and dipping the leaves in garlic butter to sweeten the meat, but have many of you thought about ways to use the canned artichoke hearts? I am a really big fan of the Vigo Artichoke Hearts that you can get in cans, whole or quartered, but they also come marinated in a nice oil and vinegar base with a hint of spice. In case you didn't know, artichokes are actually premature buds from a plant in the thistle family which is a flowering plant with sharp prickles on the margins. I guess if you've gotten stuck by an artichoke leaf, you know what they're talking about.

The marinated artichoke hearts, which are quartered, contain approximately 25 calories in a three piece serving and 2 grams of carbs. You do get about a half gram of dietary fiber from these tasty little treats. The best thing to do with the Vigo Marinated Artichoke Hearts is to just toss a few in your salad next time. This adds a delicious almost nutty flavor, with the extra benefit of adding a little Mediterranean boost to your diet, which we hear a lot about these days. Next time you're having a family gathering, make a nice antipasto by piling a plate with all sorts of meats and cheeses and don't forget to add Vigo Marinated Artichoke Hearts to the plate for a lovely addition. The hearts are marinated in oil (either soybean or sunflower), water, acetic acid, salt, spices, citric acid & ascorbic acid to retain its color. You also should keep these near the warmest part of your refrigerator as the oil tends to get thick when too cold, but if it does, just leave it on the counter for a few minutes before serving.

The other option is the Vigo Artichoke Hearts, whole or quartered, in a can of just water, salt and citric acid. If you choose the quartered, then keep in mind that the serving size is eight pieces and that will get you about 30 calories. This serving ups your carb count to 6 grams, however you're adding a whole gram of dietary fiber. One thing I sometimes do is purchase the plain artichokes and marinate them myself. I prefer to have a little extra flavor and will marinate them in a small amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Then you can toss in whatever seasonings you like such as garlic, oregano, basil, minced onion or onion powder. You may want to season them depending on what type of dish your serving them with but this allows you to be creative.

Vigo Artichoke Hearts are great for making an artichoke and spinach dip. Get a can of Vigo Artichoke Hearts, whole or quartered, and chop them into small chunks. I then slowly heat a combination of white cheddar cheese (which comes in a tub and you should find this by the bag cheeses), a block of cream cheese and a container or two of herbed cheese spread, such as Aloutte, in a pot on the stove. Once all the cheese is creamy and smooth I then add the chopped artichokes and spinach (I use thawed and drained frozen spinach). Just heat that all through and either serve as is or transfer to an oven-proof dish and heat in the oven on 350 for about 20 minutes to give the top a nice look. This should also keep the dip much hotter for a longer period of time, if it lasts on the table long enough. Another option with Vigo Artichoke Hearts is that they can also be tossed with your favorite lite cream pasta dish such as jazzing up a simple Alfredo sauce. You can also make a delicious cold pasta salad by tossing your favorite pasta with some chopped artichoke hearts, chopped radicchio, cooked chicken cuts into chunks and tossed with almonds and Cesar dressing.

Whichever type of Vigo Artichoke Hearts you choose, marinated or plain, you will not be disappointed by their taste and the many different ways to add them to your meals. They are delicious and tender and this is a lot easier than trying to clean your own whole artichoke.