In a symphony of flavors, this leek recipe strikes a perfect balance between sweet, tangy, and earthy notes. Prepared with just a handful of pantry staples, it's an ode to simple yet refined cooking. Tender leeks, gently sautéed in butter until caramelized, form the hearty base of this dish. A luscious walnut vinaigrette, made with crushed walnuts, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard, adds a layer of richness and tang. Topped with crumbled goat cheese and chives, each bite offers a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
Alongside this main recipe, the article also presents a delightful variation: leeks with bacon vinaigrette. Here, crispy bacon lends a savory smokiness to the vinaigrette, while crumbled blue cheese adds a piquant touch. For those seeking a vegan alternative, a creamy tahini dressing stands in for the walnut vinaigrette, creating a dish that's both indulgent and plant-based.
As a bonus, the article includes a guide to preparing leeks, ensuring that you get the most out of this versatile vegetable. With its step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, this guide will help you master the art of cleaning and cutting leeks, making this recipe and many more a breeze to prepare.
LEEKS WITH WALNUT VINAIGRETTE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 25m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 0
Steps:
- Trim the tough dark green tops and stem ends of 12 leeks, but keep the bases intact. Halve lengthwise and rinse well. Boil in salted water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and cool in a bowl of salted ice water, then drain and pat dry. Whisk 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Whisk in 1/3 cup walnut oil and drizzle over the leeks. Top with chopped toasted walnuts and chopped parsley.
LEEKS VINAIGRETTE
Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian
Categories side-dish
Time 3h50m
Yield 2 to 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil and season liberally with salt.
- Trim the leeks at the root ends, keeping the leeks intact. Cut the leeks where the light green meets the darker green. Save the darker green section for stock. Split the leeks in half lengthwise, again leaving the roots intact. Put the leeks in a large bowl of water and let it sit for a minute. Rinse the dirt from the insides of the leeks by lightly separating the layers and allowing the water to wash the dirt out. Tie the leeks in 3 places with butcher's twine to hold shut.
- Add the leeks to the pot of water and let it come back to a simmer. Boil the leeks until they are very tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer them to paper towels and remove the twine. Separate each leek into 2 halves.
- In a small bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, mustards, garlic, shallots and salt and pepper. Spread some of the vinaigrette on the bottom of an 8-inch square dish.
- While the leeks are still warm, remove the outer layer of each; lay the leeks cut-side down in the vinaigrette in the dish. Spoon the remaining vinaigrette over the leeks. Cover and chill the leeks in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
- Arrange the leeks on a platter and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Garnish with the hazelnuts, eggs and chives. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the leeks and serve.
LEEKS WITH DIJON VINAIGRETTE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Game Plan: Make the vinaigrette while the leeks cook.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously. Trim the root end of the leeks, leaving enough to hold the leaves together, and halve lengthwise. Rinse very well under running water to flush out any grit trapped between the leaves. Add the leeks to the boiling water and cook until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer the leeks to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Pat dry and lay them on a serving platter.
- Meanwhile, whisk the vinegar, mustard, water, and the 3/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick dressing. Drizzle the vinaigrette evenly over leeks, turn them to coat, and scatter the parsley and the tarragon, if using, over the top. Serve immediately or up to 2 hours later at room temperature.
LEEKS IN VINAIGRETTE
Leeks marinated in a lemony vinaigrette are offered at room temperature
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Make the poached leeks: Bring thyme, lemon juice, a large pinch of salt, and 5 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot. Add leeks; reduce heat, and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer leeks to paper towels to drain; discard thyme and cooking liquid. Transfer leeks to a platter.
- Make the vinaigrette: Whisk together mustard and lemon zest and juice in a small bowl. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour vinaigrette over leeks. Let stand 30 minutes.
LEEKS VINAIGRETTE
Categories Salad Mustard Vegetable Sauté Thanksgiving Quick & Easy Salad Dressing Vinegar Bacon Ham Leek Winter Parsley Simmer Gourmet
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cut off dark green tops of leeks and trim root ends. Halve each leek lengthwise to within 2 inches of root end. Rinse well under cold running water to wash away sand. Cover leeks with cold water in a 12-inch heavy skillet. Add salt and simmer leeks, uncovered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer leeks to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry with paper towels.
- While leeks simmer, finely chop pancetta, then cook in 1 tablespoon oil over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk together vinegar, mustard, remaining 1/4 cup oil, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl until emulsified. Add leeks and gently toss to coat. Serve topped with pancetta and parsley.
CLASSIC LEEKS VINAIGRETTE
For leeks vinaigrette, look for smallish leeks, which are more tender and more closely resemble asparagus spears, for the French call this dish "asperges du pauvre," the poor man's asparagus. This is important; a crunchy leek is unpleasant. Drain the leeks and hold at room temperature for up to several hours, but do not refrigerate or they'll lose their delicate texture. To serve, simply smear the leeks with vinaigrette; I make a thick, sharp rather mustardy one to complement the sweetness of the leeks. Then garnish as you wish. I like capers, hard-cooked egg, olives and cornichons.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories quick, weekday, salads and dressings
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Trim leeks, removing tough outer layers and cutting off root ends. Leave a little green at the top. Make a lengthwise slit part way down each leek. Put leeks in a large basin of warm tap water and swish vigorously to dislodge any sand or dirt. Remove carefully, leaving grit in basin.
- Fill a medium sauce pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt and put in leeks. Cook at a brisk simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until leeks are quite tender when pierced with a paring knife. Drain and cool to room temperature.
- Make vinaigrette: put mustard and vinegar in a bowl and stir to dissolve. Whisk in olive oil to make a thick sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Blot leeks and divide among 4 plates. Spoon vinaigrette over leeks, smearing with back of spoon. Sprinkle with capers. Garnish each plate with cornichons, olives and half an egg.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 173, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 474 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Choose the right leeks: Look for leeks that are firm and have a bright white color. Avoid leeks that are wilted or have brown spots.
- Trim the leeks properly: Cut off the root end and the dark green tops of the leeks. Then, slice the leeks lengthwise and rinse them thoroughly to remove any dirt or grit.
- Cook the leeks until tender: You can cook the leeks in a variety of ways, but the most common method is to sauté them in butter or oil until they are soft and caramelized.
- Make the walnut vinaigrette: The walnut vinaigrette is a key component of this dish. To make the vinaigrette, simply whisk together olive oil, walnut oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and salt and pepper.
- Serve the leeks warm or at room temperature: This dish can be served warm or at room temperature. If you are serving it warm, reheat the leeks gently in a pan over low heat.
Conclusion:
This recipe for leeks with walnut vinaigrette is a delicious and healthy side dish that can be enjoyed as part of a meal or as a snack. The leeks are cooked until tender and caramelized, and the walnut vinaigrette adds a nutty and tangy flavor. This dish is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
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