Crispy fried leeks are a delightful appetizer or side dish that offers a unique and flavorful culinary experience. Made with fresh leeks, coated in a crispy batter, and fried to perfection, these leeks deliver a satisfying crunch and a burst of savory flavors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to preparing crispy fried leeks, including two variations: a classic version and a spicy Szechuan-inspired recipe. Both recipes offer step-by-step instructions, cooking tips, and helpful variations to cater to different preferences. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner, this article will equip you with all the knowledge and techniques needed to create this irresistible dish.
Let's cook with our recipes!
CRISPY FRIED LEEK RINGS
A whimsical twist on Onion Rings! This treat is delightful as a side, on burgers, or tossed in a salad or on top of your favorite soup!
Provided by TROY RAY
Categories Other Appetizers
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 1. Slice leek from the bottom [white] part to where the stalk becomes light / medium green in 3/8" to 1/2" rings. Carefully separate them into separate rings, discarding the tight, white centers.
- 2. Immerse rings in ice water and clean carefully. Remove, drain and carefully pat dry.
- 3. "Dredge" rings in cornstarch. Set aside.
- 4. Preheat peanut oil to 375 degrees.
- 5. Place flour in a bowl and whisk in milk. Add grated shallot. The batter should be the consistency of thin pancake batter. When you've achieved this, whisk in remaining ingredients.
- 6. Coat leek rings [in small batches] with the batter. Shake of excess and drop in oil and fry until deep, golden brown. Drain and sprinkle with sea or kosher salt while hot. Repeat steps until all rings are complete.
- 7. Fantastic on their own as a side dish, but equally as delicious on a burger, in a salad, or as a topping for soup. Enjoy!
FRIED LEEKS
Provided by Food Network
Categories appetizer
Time 25m
Yield 5 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a medium sauce pot heat oil to 350 degrees F.
- Clean and julienne leeks. Sift cornstarch and flour together. Dust leeks in flour/cornstarch and fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Drain on a paper towel, season with salt. See Cook's Note.
FRIZZLED LEEKS
Steps:
- Cut leeks lengthwise into thin strips. Wash leeks and drain. Dry well between layers of paper towels.
- In a saucepan at least 3 ½ inches deep, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees. Working in very small batches fry leeks (oil will bubble up quite high) until golden, about 10-15 seconds, transferring with a slotted spoon to paper towels to dry. Season leeks with salt.
- Leeks may be fried a day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Serve on top of soup.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 15, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Fat 0 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 0 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 4 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
COLCANNON WITH CRISPY LEEKS
An Irish dish of mashed potatoes and greens, colcannon is one of the most nourishing, comforting dishes you could make. The fried leeks aren't traditional: Usually, the alliums are stewed more slowly in butter, if they're used at all. But they lend a deeper flavor, and a crisp, savory finish. For a full meal, crown it with a fried egg or some smoked salmon, or serve a simple green salad on the side. (This recipe is part of the From the Pantry series, started in the days after the coronavirus lockdown.)
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, vegetables, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a medium pot, combine the potatoes with enough water to cover them by 2 inches and a large pinch of salt. Boil until tender enough to easily pierce with a fork, 15 to 25 minutes. Drain.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter, along with a drizzle of oil, then add leeks and a pinch of salt. Sauté over medium heat for 5 or so minutes. When the leeks are golden, spoon some out onto a plate to use for garnish.
- To the leeks in the pan, add the garlic cloves, and cook them for a minute until fragrant. Then, toss in the greens. Season with more salt and cook, tossing them, until the greens are wilted and very tender. If the pan looks dry, add a splash of water.
- Now add the potatoes to the skillet and mash them (so they're either smooth or chunky), and add some milk or vegetable broth, if you like, and a lot of butter. Taste, and add more salt and lots of pepper. Scatter on the fried leeks and more butter to melt in little pools across the top.
- Top with a fried egg or some smoked salmon, or serve a simple green salad on the side.
CRISPY FRIED LEEKS
Steps:
- Pour peanut oil into heavy small saucepan to depth of 1 inch; heat to 350°F. Fry leeks in small batches until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried leeks to paper towels to drain.
LEEK RINGS
Steps:
- Preheat the oil in a heavy 5-quart pot over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F.
- Slice the leeks into 1/2-inch wide rings, separating them 2 layers at a time.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and the egg. In another medium mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Divide the flour into 2 separate, shallow dishes and place the milk and egg mixture in a third. Going 1 small handful at a time, dip the rings first into the first flour mixture, then into the milk and egg, and then into the second flour mixture. Working in batches, fry the rings for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the rings to a cooling rack set inside a half sheet pan and allow to drain for 2 to 3 minutes before serving. Season with additional salt, if desired.
CRISPY POTATO-LEEK KUGEL
Inspired by the flavors of potato-leek soup, this kugel is creamy on the inside, crackly on the outside, and completely irresistible.
Provided by Leah Koenig
Categories Egg Potato Passover Kid-Friendly Leek Small Plates
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Cut 4 potatoes into 1" chunks and place in a medium pot. Cover with cold water by 1". Season water generously with salt, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook until potatoes are tender, 10-12 minutes. Drain well, transfer to a large bowl, and mash with a potato masher; set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium until shimmering. Add leeks, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and golden, 5-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes more. Remove pan from heat and let cool slightly.
- Grease bottom and sides of an 8x8" baking pan with 2 Tbsp. oil. Place pan in oven for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, grate 3 potatoes and onion using the large holes of a box grater or a food processor fit with a shredding blade. Wrap potatoes and onion in a clean dishtowel or several layers of paper towels and squeeze out as much liquid as you can; add to the bowl with the mashed potatoes. Stir in sautéed leeks and garlic, eggs, 2 Tbsp. oil, 1 Tbsp. thyme, 2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper; mix until well combined.
- Thinly slice remaining 2 potatoes and toss with remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, 1 tsp. thyme, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Carefully remove preheated pan from oven and transfer potato-onion mixture to the pan (it should sizzle when it hits the hot oil). Smooth top with a spatula. Layer potato slices over the top in a shingled fashion. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 60-75 minutes. Heat broiler; broil kugel until crispy crust forms, 1-2 minutes, watching carefully so it does not burn. Let cool briefly, then cut into squares to serve.
LEEK-AND-ASPARAGUS CRISPY RICE
This recipe is a masterclass in how mixing textures can elevate a simple, weeknight dinner to new and delicious levels. By giving the rice a few minutes in a hot skillet to form a crackly crust, you're creating little nuggets of crunch to disperse throughout the bowl. Leeks take on a buttery quality once cooked, melting into fluffy rice and crisp-tender asparagus. Lastly, an egg-fried just until the yolk can be used as a silky sauce-becomes the crown on top of a most excellent vegetarian rice bowl.
Provided by Lauryn Tyrell
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains Rice Recipes
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat butter and 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add leeks, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in asparagus and 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until asparagus is bright green and just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to high, and cook until most of liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl.
- Return skillet to high heat; swirl in 1 tablespoon oil. Spread rice in a single layer; cook, undisturbed, until crisp in places, about 4 minutes. Stir in leek mixture, lemon zest and juice, peas, cheese, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with more cheese and herbs, topped with a fried egg.
CRISPY LEEKS
Found this included on a fish recipe over at EatingWell website and thought I would share. It sounds really good.
Provided by Jencathen
Categories Vegetable
Time 22m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Cut leek in half lengthwise, then cut each piece in half crosswise. Cut each quarter into long, thin strips. Rinse the strips in hot water and pat dry.
- Toss in a medium bowl with oil.
- In a small bowl combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle flour and spice mix over leeks; toss well to combine.
- Spread in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring once or twice, until the leeks are crispy and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
Tips:
- Select the Right Leeks: Choose fresh, young leeks with a firm, white base and dark green leaves.
- Clean the Leeks Thoroughly: Remove any dirt or grit by carefully slicing the leeks lengthwise and rinsing them under running water.
- Cut the Leeks Properly: Cut the leeks into uniform pieces, ensuring they are not too thick or thin for even cooking.
- Use a Neutral-Flavored Oil: Opt for a neutral-flavored oil like canola or vegetable oil to fry the leeks, as strong-tasting oils can overpower the delicate flavor of the leeks.
- Maintain the Right Temperature: Keep the oil at a consistent temperature of around 350°F (175°C) to prevent the leeks from burning or becoming soggy.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Pan: Fry the leeks in batches to prevent overcrowding and ensure they cook evenly and become crispy.
- Season Generously: Season the leeks with salt and pepper before and after frying to enhance their flavor.
- Serve Immediately: Crispy fried leeks are best enjoyed immediately after frying, while they are still hot and crispy.
Conclusion:
Crispy fried leeks are a versatile and delicious side dish or appetizer that can elevate any meal. By following these tips and the step-by-step instructions provided in the article, you can easily make crispy fried leeks at home. Whether you prefer a simple preparation with salt and pepper or a more elaborate dish with additional seasonings or dipping sauces, crispy fried leeks are sure to impress your taste buds. So, gather your ingredients, heat up your oil, and get ready to enjoy this crispy and flavorful treat!
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