Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup minced onion
  • 1/2 cup minced celery
  • 1/2 cup minced carrots
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups chopped artichoke hearts
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 3 cups half and half

Directions

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic; cook until the onion and garlic are translucent. Stir in the chicken broth, artichoke hearts, salt, and pepper and simmer 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a blender and puree until smooth; return the mixture to the saucepan. Squeeze one lemon half into the pan. Place the other lemon half into the saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer another 10 minutes. Remove the lemon half from the pan and pour in the half and half; stir. Continue to simmer until thoroughly heated, about 10 minutes.