Creamed Leeks Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay cook leeks? ›

Season leeks with soy, maple, sesame oil, and mirin. Top with sliced garlic and a few knobs of butter around the outside of the pan. Add just enough stock to cover leeks halfway, bring to a boil and pop into over to roast until caramelized and tender when pierced with a knife.

To cook: Leeks can be boiled, braised or steamed. Sliced leeks should be cooked for 5-7 minutes until tender but still firm. Whole small leeks should be cooked for 10-15 minutes until tender but still firm, top with a cheese sauce and then brown under a preheated grill for 5 minutes or until golden.

Arrange the leeks in one layer in a baking tray or earthenware dish and roast in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes until golden and almost caramelized. Keep your eye on them - I've seen many chefs burn baby leeks when cooking them this way and it drives me mad!

The greens, especially the darkest green parts, are very fibrous on mature leeks, and this can have a nontrivial impact on texture in the final dish. If it's something you're going to purée anyway (say, German kartoffelsuppe) then this may not matter, but if they're left whole it quite often will.

Leeks are also a good source of folate, a B-vitamin that's essential for cell growth and development. In addition to vitamins and minerals, leeks are also high in fibre. This can help to keep your digestive system healthy and may reduce the risk of constipation, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Leeks are a healthy food and, like most foods, can be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Eating large amounts of leeks, however, can have some negative effects. First, leeks are high in fiber and can cause digestive discomfort, bloating, and gas if consumed in large amounts.

Soak the stalks in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes or so, then rinse under cold running water in the sink. The long soak allows the water to penetrate the leek's many layers, clearing out all the bits of debris. Once your veg is all cleaned up and dirt-free, it's time to get cookin'.

“Leeks are a diet food for French women. We boil them and drink the water,” she says. “They're a magic trick, a little secret.” Employee Julien chimes in: “It's a common drink that helps shed kilos.”

Decide how much of the leek greens you want to use. They are tougher and can be stronger tasting, but soften with long cooking. The last couple of inches of the dark green ends should probably be discarded or saved for making stock.

How to eat leeks for weight loss? ›

Magical Leek Soup is a broth made from boiling leeks in water. It is a mild diuretic and a secret diet food for French women for generations. The practice, as written by Mireille Guiliano in her book, "French women don't get fat" is to sip the broth throughout the day and eat the boiled leeks as the meal.

To sweat them, place them in a pan with butter or oil and cook over low heat until they get soft but not browned. Leeks should never be browned, or overcooked, because it will turn them into slimy mush.

Do not trim or wash before storing. Leeks will last up to two weeks in the refrigerator if they are purchased fresh. Once cooked, leeks can be kept in the refrigerator and used within two days. Leeks do not freeze well.

Leeks get their nickname 'the poor man's asparagus' because they make a delicious vegetable side dish when cooked halved or whole. Grill or roast halved (lengthwise) or whole leeks at 375˚F for 30 minutes. Braise or steam whole leeks on the stovetop until soft and tender.

In addition to their great flavor, leeks are also a good source of dietary fiber, and contain large amounts of folic acid, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. They have laxative, antiseptic, diuretic, and anti-arthritic properties and are easier to digest than regular onions.

Sautéing leeks before adding them to the soup can enhance their flavor and bring out their sweetness. Heat some oil or butter in a pan, then add the sliced leeks. Cook them over medium heat until they become soft and slightly caramelized. This step adds depth of flavor to your soup.

Leeks are washed before and after cutting. Dirt and sand get between all the layers of the leek. Rinse at the start to get the dirt off the exterior. Rinse again after you cut leeks, so you can really get between all the layers better.