So, leeks...

Author
Discussion

grumbledoak

Original Poster:

31,551 posts

234 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
It being that time of year, the vegetable boxes are increasingly filled with stuff I wouldn't normally consider food. Thus I now find myself the proud owner of more leeks than I know what to do with (well, technically, about five times that many).

I can think of leek and potato soup, which should freeze (handy) and maybe a chicken and leek pie for later. But I cannot imagine Marco Pierre White beating a path to my door for either.

What to do with them? Or what herbs to add to give it some flavour.

And, yes, I have considered a Bottom-esqe "Leeks Mexicaine" but I don't think the OH would approve.

Cactussed

5,292 posts

214 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Braise them in beef stock with some thyme.
Quite tasty.

Don

28,377 posts

285 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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Slice, toss in oil, roast with garlic. Mmmm.

Fried in butter with garlic.

GregE240

10,857 posts

268 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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With a cheese sauce (home made of course), bake in oven. Grate some cheese on top and finish under grill.

Awesome.

grumbledoak

Original Poster:

31,551 posts

234 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Many thanks, gents: thyme, garlic, and cheese all present and correct! Sounds like an experimental afternoon is on the cards.

Don

28,377 posts

285 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Sausage and leek bake.

Slice leeks, onions, mushrooms, garlic. Spread out over the bottom of a lasagne dish.

Place six good quality sausages on top. Roast until the tops of the sausages are very brown and the veg is well done.

All the naughty sausagey juices go into the veg. Mmmmm. This is why I am fat.

Wadeski

8,163 posts

214 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
are they nice, young leeks or massive, tough old ones?

Lardydah

332 posts

206 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Leeks are a brilliant addition to mash!

Cook mash as normal
Stir in a nice big spoonful of wholegrain mustard
Stir in some sweated down n chopped leek
Top with cheese sauce (flour, milk, butter, grated cheese jobby)
Top with more cheese

under the grill until cheese on top is looking good.

perfect comfort food, used to call it champ in a restaurant i worked at. Not sure its the authentic champ, but much nicer than adding just scallions.

Petrol Only

1,593 posts

176 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
"Fish" and leek carbonara.

Fish being anything you like... cod, sea bass haddock etc etc.

So so so simple.

sauté the leeks in butter for a few minutes add cream and parmesan cheese.

Pan fry fish place on top EASY as you like and yummy.

Add pancetta/mushrooms etc etc.

Edited by Petrol Only on Friday 29th January 13:17

bazking69

8,620 posts

191 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
A very tasty veg that is blindingly easy to cook.

We tend to have them with roasts now. All you have to do is put them on a tray and put them in the oven for the last 10 minutes before serving. As simple as that.

I also put them into homemade sheppards pie and they really make a massive flavour difference when used with a dash of herbs de provence.


grumbledoak

Original Poster:

31,551 posts

234 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Wadeski said:
are they nice, young leeks or massive, tough old ones?
Some of both, by the look of them. Does that help?

soad

32,914 posts

177 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Leeks you say? I tend to overlook them.
Only had mainly with mashed potatoes (mixed in); oven baked to go with roast meats sounds good too.

Mark Benson

7,523 posts

270 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Great with a roast.

Put lardons of pancetta or streaky bacon in a saucapan with a little butter and leave them to brown over a fairly low heat.

Chop leeks and add to pan, cook over a medium heat for about 10 mins. Job done.

Add Creme Freche if you want something a bit saucy.

Wadeski

8,163 posts

214 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
if they are young, they go well in Asian simmered dishes or even some stir-fries (twice cooked pork often has leeks).

grumbledoak

Original Poster:

31,551 posts

234 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Well, half of them are now soup. Pretty good leek and potato, hint of thyme, and headed possibly for some Tallegio as recommended by the Fat Tongued one here.

Can't decide between a pie and some experimental side dishes for the rest.

Thanks for the ideas! thumbup

Edited by grumbledoak on Friday 29th January 16:00

f13ldy

1,432 posts

202 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
Chicken and Leek Stroganoff.

Glass of white wine, knob of butter and chopped leeks in a pan, cover with foil and sweat for 5 mins.

Add mushrooms, chopped chicken breast, parsley and a carton of single cream. Simmer for 10 mins.

Chuck in a bit of lemon juice.

Serve with boiled rice...

Shaw Tarse

31,543 posts

204 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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Bacon & leek tagliatelli, I'll look up the recipie.
or you can google it yourself!

Red&WhiteMonkey

6,861 posts

183 months

Friday 29th January 2010
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grumbledoak

Original Poster:

31,551 posts

234 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
RedWhiteMonkey said:
Well, quite. That's what I'd do too. If I only had one.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

218 months

Saturday 30th January 2010
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They're quite nice shredded and cooked on a high heat in the wok with butter, honey and a dash of balsamic vinegar.