Grilled artichokes:

4-5 fresh artichokes

2 lemons halved, plus 80 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

45g freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 tsp finely chopped garlic

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

125ml extra-virgin olive oil

 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.

Trim the stem of each artichoke to 2.5cm long, then bend the stem backwards and snap off the dark outer leaves. Cut the top 2 cm of the artichokes with a sharp knife. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the dark green areas from the stem and base of the artichoke, and cut each artichoke into quarters.

Using a small, sharp knife, cut out the choke and remove the purple prickly leaves from the centre of each wedge.
Place the prepped artichokes into a large bowl of cold water. Squeeze 2 lemons into the water and stir.

Once all the artichokes are in the bowl, drain the water and place the artichokes into boiling water. Cook on low heat until tender-crisp, about 10 minutes.

Drain the cooked artichokes and place them onto the preheated grill. Grill until tender and lightly charred in spots, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.

In a medium bowl, add the remaining lemon juice, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Gradually drizzle in olive oil. Toss or drizzle the artichokes with the garlic/parsley mixture and serve.

 

Cashew dressing:

1 cup raw cashews

1 roasted red pepper from a jar

1-2 cloves garlic

1-2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Salt and pepper

 

Soak the cashew overnight (or if you’re in a hurry, soak in boiling water for 20 min).

Rinse the cashews well to help get rid of the acidic flavour.

Transfer to a blender. Add the roasted red pepper, garlic, and lemon juice, and season well.

Blend for 2-3 min until it has a consistency like mayonnaise.

If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of water to achieve ideal consistency.

 

Benefits

Artichokes: very helpful for asthmatic condition and relieving constipation; they contain inulin which stimulates insulin production and reduces the need for insulin

Cashews: help with bone, joint, and blood vessel flexibility, and assist with production of red blood cells