Artichokes with Lemon & Dill

1. Squeeze the juice from 2 lemons. Fill a large bowl of cold water and add the juice and rinds. Use a paring knife to trim the bottom 1/4 inch off the artichoke stems. Snip the thorn off the leaves with kitchen shears. Cut off about 1 inch from the tops. With a melon baller or spoon, scoop out the fuzzy chokes. Place the trimmed artichokes in the lemon water to prevent discoloration.

2. Squeeze 1/3 cup juice from the remaining 2 lemons. Combine the juice with 2 cups water in a large nonreactive pot wide enough to hold the artichokes in a single layer. Drain the artichokes and lay them on their sides in the pot. Top with garlic, dill, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer, turning the artichokes once, until tender when pierced with a fork, 18 to 20 minutes.

3. With a slotted spoon, transfer the artichokes to a deep platter. Simmer the liquid remaining in the pan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes; spoon over the artichokes. Let cool to room temperature.

4. To serve, drizzle the artichokes with oil and baste with sauce. Garnish with chopped dill and lemon wedges, if desired.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 3. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.