Spanish Artichokes with Ham (Alcachofas con jamón)
Alcachofas con jamón is a classic first course made with tender artichokes, Serrano ham bits, white wine, and more. The delicious sauce really elevates this simple dish!
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 8-9 artichokes
- 1 white onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 cup serrano ham bits
- 2 cups white wine
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the artichokes: Peel the deep green outer leaves and discard. Stop when you reach the paler green leaves. Cut the tip of the artichoke to remove the remaining hard bits. Cut the stem, but leave some at the base. Peel the remaining stem. Cut the artichokes in half, and using the tip of a knife, remove the “hairs”. Then cut them in half again.
- Prepare the rest of the ingredients: Peel and thinly slice the onion. Peel and thinly slice the garlic cloves. Chop the fresh parsley.
- In a pan, heat half of the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic. Season with a bit of salt and cook over medium-low heat until browned and fragrant.
- Add the serrano ham bits and brown gently on low heat until they change color and release some fat. Remove everything and set aside in a bowl.
- In the same pan, add the rest of the olive oil and the artichoke slices. Cook over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes on each side. Watch carefully to avoid burning. Work in batches if needed.
- Add back the cooked onion, garlic, and serrano ham bits, and mix well. Season with freshly cracked black pepper.
- Add the white wine and simmer on low heat until the artichokes are tender and the sauce has reduced. Taste and adjust the salt if needed.
- Serve garnished with freshly chopped parsley (optional) and a side of crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
Notes
- Make this dish when artichokes are in season for the best flavor and tenderness.
- Use ham cut into small cubes. If you can't find Serrano ham or Parma ham, good-quality thick bacon can be used as a substitute (but it will change the flavor).
- Serrano ham is salted and cured, so its flavors intensify when cooked and it can become hard and too salty quickly. Go easy on the salt, you can always add more at the end.
- If you want to prevent the artichokes from browning, you can drizzle the raw artichokes with lemon juice, but it can make the dish slightly sour.
Nutrition
Calories: 622kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 2468mg | Potassium: 2128mg | Fiber: 29g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 702IU | Vitamin C: 76mg | Calcium: 271mg | Iron: 9mg
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
