Baked Cardoons (Cardi al forno)

Cardi al forno is a traditional vegetable dish originating from Italy consisting of baked cardoons. Other ingredients usually include olive oil, lemons, Parmigiano-Reggiano, salt, and pepper. The cardoon sticks are cut into two pieces and placed in a bowl with lemon juice, cold water, and lemon wedges.

They're drained, placed into boiling salted water, and simmered until just tender, then drained again. The cardoons are placed into a greased ovenproof dish, drizzled with olive oil, topped with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and baked in the oven until the cheese melts.

Cardi al forno are traditionally served piping hot. There are many recipes and variations on the dish, so it's not uncommon to also use breadcrumbs, garlic, and parsley.