Catraure in Padella

Castraure are beauties – the small bitter first artichokes that bud on the island of Sant’ Erasmus (a nice vaporetto ride from the fondamenta Nuova). They are considered a prize & are much appreciated – so small & perfect that it is not necessary to take out a choke. Make as many as will fit in a large non-stick frying pan (I have said about 25 here but yours may be of a different size). If you don’t have castraure, use ordinary artichokes, quartered. Or baby artichokes. If you have