Artichokes help us against the heat!

With the heat that Spain is facing during the summer, many people find it a bit lazy to get into the kitchen and spend time preparing great meals. Whether it's because we prefer to spend our time with family, friends or taking a bath to reduce the heat, the truth is that spending hours in front of the pots and pans can be tiring just thinking about it.

But that doesn't mean we have to give up healthy eating with vegetables, including artichokes. Whether canned, frozen or fresh (yes, fresh artichokes are available all year round), artichokes can be the star of your quick, simple and healthy culinary creations. A delicious example, which is always a hit, is the Mediterranean Artichoke Salad.

Ingredients:

300 g frozen or canned artichoke hearts (can be Hacendado-Mercadona frozen baby artichokes).

100 g small cubes of cured ham

100 g of fresh cheese

Chopped chives

6 or 7 dried tomatoes

50 g sliced black olives

Extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and salt

Garlic powder or a small clove of crushed garlic

Preparation:

1.If you use canned or preserved artichokes you have to rinse them very well and drain them. If you use frozen artichokes, you can cook them in very little salted water or steam them in the microwave following the instructions on the packet. Depending on their size, cut them in half or leave them whole, as you like.

2.Once the artichokes are warm, chop the sundried tomatoes. If they are preserved in oil, you can use part of the oil to dress the salad.

3. Chop the rest of the ingredients. Slice the olives, chop the chives, cheese and ham into small cubes.

4.Put all the ingredients in a bowl.

5.Prepare the vinaigrette by mixing 3 parts oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar and salt, add garlic powder to taste the salad. Stir carefully so that the artichokes do not spoil.

6. Leave the Mediterranean artichoke salad to rest in the fridge for at least a couple of hours before serving so that it cools well and the flavours integrate and mix well.

(credits:https://alcachofa.es/blog/verano-alcachofa-platos-frios-recetas/ and https://www.divinacocina.es/ensalada-de-alcachofas-mediterranea/ )