The 9 Best Artichoke Substitutes for Your Recipes

Artichokes come from the composite flower family and it’s pretty popular in recipes from the Old Continent. The leaves and the hearts are the edible parts of the plants, and they can be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, braised, fried, or roasted.

In some situations, you might run out of artichoke, and you want an artichoke substitute that provides a similar taste or texture. You might also not be that fond of artichokes in the same place, but you want to prepare a recipe that contains this vegetable as the main ingredient. 

This is where our artichoke substitutes guide comes in handy, so let’s dive in. 

The best substitutes for artichoke

Artichokes are really versatile, and their taste and texture will differ depending on how you choose to cook and serve them. 

Artichokes can be consumed on their own or added as a thickening ingredient to your dish. This is why there are lots of options that can work for you if you’re trying to replace artichokes in your recipes.

Although some people pickle and eat the leaves, most people eat the hearts of the artichokes. The heart is surrounded by petals, which contain tiny thorns that soften when cooked. In some cases, when you’re eating baby artichokes, the whole vegetable is eaten. 

Artichokes are sold fresh, frozen, or canned. Some people choose to buy the hearts on their own because you can cut the prepping time and get straight to the cooking. 

You can use artichokes in many different dishes. Add artichokes to your pizza, use them with your pasta, combine them with other veggies in ratatouille, or chop them to add them to the mixture of your frittatas or omelets. 

You can also fry or grill artichoke hearts, or they can be sautéed to create a great side dish for your steak or roasted chicken. When cooked for more extended periods, and artichoke spread will pair well with your goat cheese sandwich. 

Artichoke hearts can be baked or stuffed, but you can also serve them raw in your salad after drizzling them with your favorite sauce. 

If you don’t have enough artichokes for your recipe or don’t like their texture and taste, you have plenty of artichoke substitutes that you can experiment with. 

Each artichoke substitute works for a specific cooking purpose, so you can explore the versatile options on our list to find the right one for you. 

1. Cardone

Cardone or Cardoon is a vegetable that looks like celery but tastes just like artichoke when it’s chopped. You can use it on top of your pizza or as an addition to your cheese gratin and other baked dishes. 

Cardone contains Vitamin C, Vitamin B, and Calcium, so it will be a tasty and healthy addition to your recipes. However, it doesn’t work if you want to prepare a sauce or gravy because it doesn’t have the same texture as artichokes. It also cannot be consumed raw. 

2. Asparagus

Asparagus is a thin vegetable that can be prepared in multiple ways. It can be fried, stir-fried, or chopped and added to your ratatouille if you want to replace artichokes.

This vegetable is rich in iron and Vitamin C, so it will keep your recipe healthy. Because of its color, you can add asparagus to salads instead of artichokes to balance the colors of other ingredients. 

It has a slightly sharper flavor that resembles that of broccoli, but it will work for you if you’re not that fond of the taste of artichoke hearts. It can also become the main ingredient of a sandwich or omelet to add a little flavor to your dish. 

3. Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprouts can be sautéed, grilled, stir-fried, and oven-roasted, but more importantly, they can replace artichoke hearts when you don’t have enough. 

Brussel sprouts are very rich in Vitamin C. They’re also rich in Vitamin B-6 and Calcium, so they’re the perfect addition if you want to make your dishes healthier. 

Because they taste a little sharp, Brussel sprouts work for those who don’t like the flavor of artichokes. The crunchy exterior and buttery interior make Brussel sprouts the perfect artichoke hearts substitute in recipes that require a longer cooking time. 

4. Bamboo Shoots

The edible parts of bamboo shoots can perfectly replace all the edible parts of artichoke in several recipes. They’re crunchy with a little bit of earthy nutty flavor, and in that sense, they resemble the taste of artichoke hearts a lot. 

Bamboo shoots contain several nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and Vitamin B-6. They can be served raw, sliced and braised, or grilled to replace artichokes in a side dish. They can also be puréed or added to dips instead of artichokes. 

We recommend that you use young bamboo shoots because they’re sweeter and crunchier. When they get too old, they become too bitter. You can get fresh bamboo shoots or buy them canned, but the fresh ones have a better flavor and texture. 

5. Jerusalem Artichoke

If you’re not fond of the taste of artichoke hearts, you can use Jerusalem artichokes instead. It shares only the name with artichokes, but it tastes quite different from the most common artichoke. 

Jerusalem artichokes have a mild, sweet, and slightly nutty flavor, so they will work for recipes that call for the use of raw artichokes. They’re rich in iron, Vitamin C, phosphorus, and potassium, so you will have a tasty dish that is packed with healthy nutrients. 

You can use this substitute for artichoke if you need something that provides the same texture with a slightly different flavor. You can stir-fry or grill Jerusalem artichokes, and they will taste crunchy and delicious. 

6. The Heart Of The Palm

The heart of the palm is a vegetable harvested from specific types of palm trees. It has a flavor that resembles that of artichoke hearts, so it can be a perfect artichoke hearts replacement in sauces and gravies. 

You can use this tasty substitute to make your recipes healthier because it contains more than 50% of the daily needed amount of potassium. It’s also rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B-6.

When cooked, its tender flesh will be a great addition to your dips and purées. It can also be stir-fried or even served in a salad. 

7. Chayote Squash

Chayote squash has a mild taste and is a little bit crunchy. It’s fairly sweet, so it’s the perfect addition to any dish that calls for artichokes without changing the flavor or texture of your recipe.

Because it’s rich in Vitamin C, chayote squash will be an excellent and healthy way to replace artichoke hearts in a recipe if your kids aren’t fond of its taste. 

Chayote can be puréed into a stew or added into the gravy to provide the needed richness and creaminess. You can also serve it raw instead of raw artichoke hearts in your salad.  

8. Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi, also known as German Turnip, can be the perfect artichoke heart substitute whether it’s served raw, grilled, roasted, or used in a sauce. 

This superfood is rich in Vitamin C but low in calories, so it will be a healthy substitute for artichoke hearts. When served raw, it tastes like raw cabbage, which belongs to the same family. It has more kick than artichoke, which is naturally nuttier and earthier. 

However, when cooked, it can be a perfect replacement for artichokes. Smaller bulbs have a milder taste, so you can use them in salads, slaws, or slightly sautéed. Cook Kohlrabi a little longer, and it can replace artichoke in dips and sauces. 

9. Broccoli Stems

After cutting the florets, most people throw broccoli stems away. However, broccoli stems can perfectly replace artichokes in your dishes if they’re prepared right. 

Broccoli stems represent the immature part of the flower, so they taste just like the flower, but they’re slightly fresher and greener. They’re mild and sweet but not as nutty as artichokes, so they will work for you if you’re not that fond of the artichoke heart’s taste. 

Just like the florets, broccoli stems are high in antioxidants, Vitamin C, and iron. They can be chopped into salads or added to sandwiches. You can steam, grill, or stir-fry them. You can also add them to your gratin or any other baked dishes instead of artichokes. 

How to choose an artichoke substitute

When it comes to picking the right artichoke substitute, you need to think about your recipe. The cooking method and the cooking time will significantly influence your choice when you’re selecting between multiple artichoke alternatives. 

Cardone tastes a lot like artichoke, but it can’t be eaten raw or added to the gravy as it will change its texture. If you want to replace artichoke in a salad, you can opt for asparagus, the heart of the palm, bamboo shoots, chayote squash, kohlrabi, or broccoli stems. 

For a sauté or a stir-fry, you can replace artichoke with Jerusalem artichoke, Brussel sprouts, or broccoli stems. They can also be steamed or grilled. 

Asparagus and broccoli stems can be added to your sandwich, but if you want an artichoke substitute that adds texture and creaminess to gravy or dip, we recommend that you try chayote squash. 

Cooking is all about trying new ingredients and exploring new tastes. So, next time you’re short on artichokes, we encourage you to experiment with these alternatives and see which one works for you.