in Bulb Vegetables, Prepare

Six Ways to Cook and Serve Leeks

Leeks fresh sliced1

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Leeks can be steamed, braised, grilled, and poached. You can also make leek au gratin and leek-potato soup.

The flavor and fragrance of leeks are more subtle, delicate, and sweeter than onions.

Favorite leek recipe

Potato-Leek Soup Simply Made

Leeks cooking suggestions

  • Leeks can be prepared much the same way as asparagus. They can be used in stocks, soups, stews, and poached or steamed. They should not be overcooked or they will become slippery and slimy.
  • To ensure uniform cooking use similarly sized leeks.
  • Braising or baking leeks allow 25 to 35 minutes.
  • Simmer medium- to large-size whole leeks for 10 to 15 minutes; quarters, halves, or small whole leeks for about 5 minutes.
  • Steam medium- to large-size whole leeks for 15 to 20 minutes; quarters, halves, or small whole leeks for about 10 minutes.
  • Sauté or stir fry leeks for 3 to 5 minutes until they are tender and slightly brown around the edges. You do not need to use a coating or batter.
  • Pan-fry or a deep-fat-fry leek in a wet batter until the crust is golden brown.
  • Raw, finely chopped leeks are often added to salads—use in combination or as a substitute for onions, shallots or chives.
  • Leek greens are often used to add flavor to broth, stews, and purees.

Also of interest:

Leeks in kitchen
Sliced leeks

How to choose leeks

  • Select leeks that are straight, firm, and intact with crisp, upright, brightly colored leaves and that have unblemished white portions.
  • Smaller leeks will be most tender and flavorful.
  • Avoid leeks with withered, limp or yellow-spotted leaves or those that have cracked or overly swollen bulbs. 
  • The white section and about 2 inches (5 cm) of the pale green portion are the desirable parts for cooking. If you bend the lower part of the pale section, it should give a little. If it doesn’t give, the leek has a woody heart that won’t soften during cooking.

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How to store leeks

Leeks will keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Wrap them in a damp towel in an open plastic bag. They will keep for only 2 days after cooking, and they do not freeze well.

Sliced leeks
Sliced leeks

How to prep leeks for cooking

  • Slit the leek from the top to the bottom lengthwise keeping the root intact and wash thoroughly to remove all dirt trapped between the leaf layers or soak leeks for 10 minutes in cold, salty water to destroy insects that might be hiding between the leaves. Rinse them gently to remove any dirt.
  • Trim rootlets and leaf ends before using.
  • Leeks can be cooked whole or sliced.
Leeks for steaming
Leeks for steaming

How to steam leeks

  1. Trim and clean the leeks. Leeks can be steamed whole or sliced.
  2. Place the leeks in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water. Season with pepper or tarragon.
  3. Steam until the leeks are tender, about 10 minutes
  4. Transfer the leeks to a plate; drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and add salt and pepper to taste.
Braised leeks
Braised leeks

How to braise leeks

  1. Trim and clean the leeks.
  2. Coat the bottom of a skillet or saucepan with butter or olive oil and turn the heat to medium.
  3. When the butter melts or the oil is hot, add the leeks to the skillet in one layer.
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Cook the leeks on both sides, turning at least twice for about 5 minutes.
  6. Add a cup or slightly more of chicken or vegetable stock; turn the heat to low and cover the pan.
  7. Cook until the leeks are just tender, about 20 minutes.
  8. If there is excess liquid, uncover the pan and turn the heat up slightly to boil it away.
  9. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve hot or at room temperature.
Leek gratin
Leek gratin

How to make leeks au gratin

  • Use an oven-proof skillet and follow the directions above to braise the leeks.
  • At the end (step 9 above), sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese instead of lemon juice. Place the skillet in the oven until the cheese melts or just slightly browns.

How to grill leeks

  1. Preheat the grill so that is very hot.
  2. Brush the leeks lightly with olive and soil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Set the leeks directly on the grill; if they are thin place them in a grilling basket.
  4. Grill and turn until tender and brown all around, 5 to 15 minutes depending on the size of the leeks.
  5. Serve with vinaigrette or melted butter. 

How to poach leeks

Poach leeks in a bouillon. Here are the ingredients for a bouillon made by Master Chef James Beard: 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup white wine vinegar, 1/3 cup dry white wine, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 bay leaf, 1 garlic clove peeled, a dash of Tabasco, a teaspoon dry thyme. Mix.

  1. Clean and trim the leeks.
  2. Put the bouillon in a large shallow pan or deep skillet and add the leeks.
  3. Add just enough water to cover the leeks.
  4. Bring the liquid to a boil very slowly over medium heat.
  5. Reduce the heat and poach until the leeks are just crisp-tender. Do not overcook.
  6. Remove from heat and let the leeks cool in the liquid
  7. When the leeks are cook transfer to a serving dish or place in a refrigerator container and serve chilled later.
Leek potato soup
Leek potato soup

How to make leek and potato soup

Leeks flavor partners 

  • Leeks can be served with onions, tomatoes, pimiento, mushrooms, celery, sweet bell pepper, potatoes, bacon, ham, chicken, fish, mussels, vinaigrette, white wine or any combination of these.
  • Season leeks with salt, pepper, garlic, tarragon, mustard, dill, marjoram, turmeric, savory, basil, paprika, oregano, mace, nutmeg, allspice, mint, parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme.

Leeks nutrition

  • Leeks are a good source of folic acid and a good source of iron and potassium. They also supply vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, calcium, and copper.
  • Leeks are low in calories and rich in vitamin A.
  • If you have trouble digesting onions, leeks may be a good alternative.
Leeks near harvest
Leeks nearing harvest

Get to know leeks

  • The leek looks like a giant scallion with a thick white stalk that is cylindrical in shape and has a slightly bulbous root end. It can grow from 18 to 36 inches (45-90 cm) tall and the bulb is usually at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.
  • The tender part of the leek is the lower portion of the stalk—which is white and grows underground or is blanched white after being set in trenches or mounded during the growing process.
  • The leaves are broad, flat, dark green, and wrapped tightly around each other much like a rolled newspaper.
  • The leek is essential to many fine dishes—the popular cold soup vichyssoise—which has been made in France for centuries, the Scottish cock-a-leekie, and stews such as the French pot-au-feu.
  • Leeks have been in cultivation since at least 300 BC and are thought to be native to the region stretching from Israel on the Mediterranean Sea to India and Central Asia. It is thought that ancient Phoenician traders introduced leeks to Britain and to the Celts and Welsh. (Leac was the Saxon term for any kind of onion or garlic (gar-leac).
  • The ancient Egyptians held leeks in high esteem as did the ancient Romans, who considered leeks superior to both onions and garlic.
  • Today, the leek is the national vegetable of Wales. The leading producers of leeks are France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The botanical name of the leek is Allium porrum.

Leeks articles on Harvest to Table:

How to Plant and Grow Leeks

Leeks Seed Starting Tips

How to Harvest and Store Leeks

Six Ways to Cook and Serve Leeks

Potato-Leek Soup Simply Made

Onion Family Growing Problems Troubleshooting

Articles of interest:

How to Start an Herb Garden

Best Herbs for Container Growing

Herbs for Cool Season Growing

Growing Herbs for Cooking

Garden Planning Books at Amazon:

More kitchen tips:

Bring your harvest to the table. Kitchen prep tips and easy recipes for the vegetables you grow. Click below for vegetable prep and recipes you can use now.

Written by Stephen Albert

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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