Braised Artichokes with Mint

• 1 lemon
• 12 small or 3 large artichokes, about 2 lb

Finely grate the zest from the lemon and set the zest aside. Fill a large bowl with water, halve the lemon, and squeeze the juice into the water.

If using small artichokes, snap off the dark green outer leaves until you reach the tender yellow leaves. Using a small, sharp knife, trim away the tough, dark green outer layer of the base and the stem until the surface is smooth and evenly p