Our Best Ideas for Leeks
Whether you’re a seasoned leek fan or a newbie who has always wondered what to do with (what looks like) those overgrown scallions in your market basket, this deep dive into cooking with leeks will be a great inspiration. Some background: Leeks are members of the allium family, like onions and scallions, but they have a deeper savoriness and sweetness than either. Tried-and-true recipes, like potato-leek soup, take advantage of this quality, pairing a bland vegetable with body (the potato) with another that has a subtle oomph (that would be the leek). Steaming or boiling leeks, another classic preparation, leaves you with a silky vegetable side dish that needs no more than a light dressing to really wow. One caveat: Be sure you clean the leeks well, as they can contain sand among their layers. Trim off the tougher dark green tops and outer leaves and wash in running water; slice and soak grittier leeks in several changes of water.
