What Part Of A Leek Is Used For Cooking

Leeks add sweet, oniony flavor to soups, stews, pastas, and more! Read on to acquire how to cut and cook them, and find some of my favorite leek recipes.

Ever heard of potato leek soup? I thought and so! But how often do you melt leeks in other recipes? Take y'all tried them in pasta, stuffing, or risotto? Accept yous eaten them on their own? If I had my way, nosotros'd all exist eating leeks mode more oftentimes. They're incredibly versatile, adding unique, sweet, and mild onion flavor to a huge range of dishes.

To spread the leek love, I'm sharing my go-to methods for how to cut, clean, and cook leeks below, likewise as my favorite leek recipes. If yous have a leek in your fridge right now, I promise you're excited. This veggie seems humble, but there's and then much that it can exercise!

What are Leeks?

Leeks are alliums, so they're related to garlic, chives, shallots, and onions. Tasting them, y'all can tell. They have a sweet, oniony flavor that adds depth to soups, stews, pastas, and more! I'll share more of my favorite leek recipes in the mail service beneath, but generally, I utilize them as I do onions and shallots, to build flavor at the first of a recipe. Notwithstanding, because they're milder than virtually other alliums, I also similar to enjoy them on their own. Grilled or roasted, they brand a surprising, delicious side dish. Heads up – if yous choose to serve them this way, look for actually fresh, peak-season leeks. They're at their all-time in the fall and jump.

How to Cut Leeks

How you cutting leeks will vary based on how you cook them. This method for how to cut leeks is the one I use most often. It works perfectly anytime you sauté leeks, equally yous would for a soup, pasta, or risotto. Here's how information technology goes:

Offset, piece the leeks in one-half lengthwise.

And then, chop off the stringy roots and dark greenish leaves. You won't use the tough tops in most leek recipes, but still, don't toss them! They add together delicious oniony flavor to homemade stock. Store them in an closed bag in the freezer until yous're ready to make some.

Side by side, go along chopping the white and light green parts. Lay them cut-side-down on your cutting lath, and cut them into thin half-moons.

At present, you might find that your leeks are pretty dirty within. That'southward totally normal! Leeks are frequently filled with dirt and sand, and then cleaning them is an important part of the cutting process.

In one case you've cut all the leeks into thin slices, add them to a colander. Rinse them under absurd running water, tossing them to remove whatsoever dirt or debris. When the chopped leeks are clean, use a paper towel or kitchen towel to absorb them dry before you commencement to cook.

How to Melt Leeks

Now yous know how to cut leeks, but what well-nigh how to cook them? My favorite methods for how to cook leeks are roasting, grilling, and sautéing. Every bit I mentioned higher up, you'll cutting them a little differently for each cooking method:

To grill them, slice them in half lengthwise, rinse and dry them well, and grill both sides on medium-loftier until they're well-charred and tender.
If you're roasting them, halve them lengthwise, chop them into 1-inch chunks, and wash them using the method described to a higher place. So, toss them with olive oil, table salt, and pepper and broil at 425° for well-nigh 20 minutes, or until they're tender.
To sauté them, follow the cutting method described above, and warm a glug of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes.

In each of these methods, you lot'll only use the white and lite greenish parts of the leeks, not the dark leaves. Still, don't toss those tops! They add delectable flavor to homemade vegetable stock. Observe my recipe on folio 106 of Honey & Lemons Every Day.

Favorite Leek Recipes

With these basic cooking methods in your dorsum pocket, y'all'll be able to enjoy leeks as a side dish or add together them to any leek recipes you lot like! Need some ideas? Here are a few of my favorite ways to use them:

On their own! Grill or roast them and enjoy them equally a side dish. Serve them with romesco sauce, basil pesto, or the Mint Pesto on page 179 of The Beloved & Lemons Cookbook.
In soups. Leeks are famous for their ability to add depth to soups, stews, and stock. You lot'll find them in this Oyster Mushroom Soup, this Cream of Mushroom Soup, the Leap Leek Soup on page 163 of The Love and Lemons Cookbook, and the Vegan Irish potato, Leek & Artichoke Chowder on page 91 of Love & Lemons Every Day.
In pasta. Use leeks to deepen the flavor in my One-Pot Pasta or Vegetarian Lasagna. Alternatively, showcase them in the Spring Leek & Lemon Pasta on page 185 of The Honey & Lemons Cookbook.
In risotto.These tender alliums are a classic risotto ingredient. You'll detect them in the Lemon Risotto on page 201 of Love & Lemons Every Day.
With eggs. Fold sautéed leeks into an omelet or scrambled eggs, or add them to a veggie frittata. They're too wonderful in the Leek & Radish Green Tart on page 181 of Love & Lemons Every Day.
In stuffing. There's something virtually leeks' sweet, oniony flavor that I justadmirein Thanksgiving stuffing. Add them to this Butternut Squash Stuffing or my classic stuffing recipe.
On pizza. Add together sautéed leeks to any bootleg pizza or the Pizza with Apples, Leeks & Lemon Zest Labneh on page 183 of Love & Lemons Every Day.

What are your favorite leek recipes? Let me know in the comments!

More Vegetable Basics

If you loved learning how to melt leeks, check out one of these vegetable guides next:

What is Fennel? (And How to Melt It)
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
Roasted Garlic
How to Cook Asparagus
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
How to Cook Corn on the Cob
Roasted Broccoli
Sautéed Kale

How to Cutting and Cook Leeks

Prep Time: v mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Serves 4

Leeks add together sweet, mild onion season to soups, stews, and more. These are my methods for cutting and cooking them. See the web log mail in a higher place for some of my favorite leek recipes.

1 bunch leeks
extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
ocean salt and freshly ground blackness pepper

How to Cut Leeks

Chop off the stringy roots and night green leaves. Y'all won't utilise the tough tops in almost leek recipes, just I love to salvage them for vegetable stock.
Piece the leeks in half lengthwise. Lay them cut-side-down on a cutting board, and cut them into thin half-moons. Transfer to a colander and rinse under cool running water, tossing to remove whatsoever dirt or debris. Use a kitchen towel to blot them dry out before you starting time to melt.

How to Melt Leeks

To sauté: follow the cutting method described in a higher place, and warm a glug of olive oil in a large skillet over medium oestrus. Add together the leeks, a few pinches of common salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, nearly 5 minutes.
To roast: chop into one-inch chunks, and wash them using the method described in a higher place. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 425° for xv to twenty minutes, or until they're tender.
To grill: slice in half lengthwise (skip the chopping step above), rinse and dry them well, drizzle with a little olive oil and grill both sides on medium-high until they're well-charred and tender. Season with salt and pepper.