This Overlooked Canned Vegetable Transforms Basic Salads With Mediterranean Flavor
When you think of canned vegetables, you might think of beans, diced tomatoes, or maybe peas and carrots. But, if you want to build a Mediterranean-style salad with plenty of flavor, don't overlook canned artichokes. They're inexpensive and flavorful, add a tangy taste to any salad — including pasta salad — and all the work of peeling and cooking the artichoke is already done for you.
When you buy canned artichokes, you're buying the peeled, ready-to-eat artichoke heart (its center) rather than the whole artichoke. Typically, the can is watered down, so the artichokes should be drained before cooking with them. Canned artichokes often come whole or quartered, and that preference depends on what you're using them for. If you want the leaves intact — which might look better for appearance on top of a salad — go with whole. If you're making a salad where ease is the focus, then quartered artichokes are fine. It's also easier to finely chop quartered artichokes if you want to reduce the size of the leaves even further.
Understand the difference between marinated and plain artichokes
Before buying artichokes for a salad, know that there are marinated and plain styles. Plain artichokes are just that: the artichoke hearts packed in water. Marinated artichoke hearts are usually in a blend of oil and vinegar, as well as some seasonings such as garlic or even paprika. Marinated artichokes are often sold in glass jars rather than cans, so carefully read the label to make sure you know what kind you're buying. If you want, you can purchase plain artichokes and marinate them with the salad ingredients yourself using the flavors you prefer.
Artichoke hearts add a punchy flavor to salads, and they're balanced well with other Mediterranean ingredients, such as cucumbers, for a bright, fresh flavor, or feta for salty flavor. Artichokes also work well with other tangy add-ons, including kalamata olives or pickled red onions, but the key here is balance through a combination of Mediterranean ingredients that aren't overly tangy or too bland.