The Underrated Canned Veggie That's Begging For A Caramelized Upgrade Tonight

Canned artichoke hearts are one of those superhero pantry staples that too often gets overlooked despite the fact the hard work of getting the hearts out has been done for you, the cans are affordable, and artichokes boast one of the highest protein contents among canned veggies. Typically, canned artichoke hearts are added directly from the can to salads, pizza, or dips. However, after you pop these babies in the oven or on a frying pan to brown and caramelize them, you'll never want them any other way.

When canned artichoke hearts are drained, dried, oiled, and seasoned, then met with high heat, the exterior develops a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and crispy texture. Meanwhile, the interior is also heated through to become tender and creamy.

To achieve caramelized status, it's best if the artichoke hearts are halved or quartered (whether purchased that way or cut from whole), as they will otherwise retain too much moisture and not receive enough contact with the hot surface. Make sure the hearts are dried after draining, as excess water will inhibit caramelization. Once dried, lightly coat the artichoke pieces with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. If roasting, spread them out evenly on a foil-lined baking sheet to cook at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Otherwise, sauté them in a frying pan at medium-high heat until the outer leaves are golden brown.

Once the canned artichoke hearts have been beautifully caramelized, you can enjoy their flavorful simplicity as is or add them to any recipe that calls for regular artichoke hearts. The caramelized canned veggie will bring a wow-factor boost in flavor when added to quiche, topped on pizza, or layered in sandwiches or wraps. The tender, savory, slightly nutty flavors of caramelized artichokes combined with their heartiness also makes them a great companion to creamy dips, like hummus, garlic aioli, a 3-ingredient onion dip, or a high-protein cottage cheese spread. Certain cheese dips will also taste more complex and savory once the caramelized artichoke hearts have been roughly chopped and mixed in.

To up the flavor of caramelized canned artichoke hearts even more, consider accompanying the oil, salt, and pepper with dried seasonings like Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, or parmesan cheese. Alternatively, choose jarred artichoke hearts packed in oil and dried herbs for a shortcut that's already ready to be added to a hot oven or pan.