A Holiday Tradition: Stuffed Artichokes

By Lucia Ferrara

Stuffed artichokes a very special dish; it’s something you fix only a very few times a year. Growing up in an Italian-Croatian family, my mom would make stuffed artichokes for us on Christmas and maybe for Easter, so it was a special holiday treat that we waited for all year long.

Because it is so special to me, I wanted to share it with you.

It might sound really heard, but it is a super-simple recipe that anyone can do.

Keep in mind that there are many different ways to stuff artichokes. This is one, traditional way to do it. You should have one artichoke for each person. You can serve this as an appetizer or as a side to the main meal.

Stuffed Artichokes

• 4 artichokes
• ¼ cup chopped parsley
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• 1 ½ cups bread crumbs
• 1 ½ cups parmesan cheese, grated
• 2-3 lemons
• Olive oil
• White wine
• 1 ½ cups water
• ½ stick butter, melted

Equipment you need:

• Dutch oven or roasting pan with a lid
• A serrated knife

Cooking as a spiritual practice

I wanted to leave you with this message for the Christmas season. Christmas is all about traditions: family and getting together with friends. This year we may have to discover new ways to do live out those traditions, but the underlining message remains. That, I think, is found in scripture, Luke 2: 8-15:

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.

And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

I wanted to leave you that little bit of scripture, because this is why we celebrate Christmas, the season of loving and giving kindness and the birth of our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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I want you to go to the table, come with me to the table, come on over here. Let’s have our stuff artichokes and our wine. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

All the articles and videos in the Cooking and Spirituality Series can be found here.

[Lucia Ferrara, the Director of Hospitality at Precious Blood Renewal Center. Share your thoughts with Lucia or ask her questions using the form below or by sending an email to info@pbrenewalcenter.org.]

Note: We are reposting this holiday favorite. It was originally posed on Dec. 9, 2020.