While leeks can be typically found year-round at the supermarkets, they are a typical spring vegetable and are highly abundant during the spring season. Leeks are usually in season from late winter to early summer, so make sure you take advantage of this vegetable right now.
What are leeks?
Part of the allium family, leeks are a relative of onions, garlic, shallots and chives. The leek has a white bulb at the bottom with leafy greens on top, and looks like a larger, more rustic version of a green onion.
How to Cook With Leeks
I use leeks very often in my cooking, because they have a flavor that works extremely well in savory dishes—in the same way you would use onions. Given that leeks have a flavor profile similar to that of onions, but are just a little bit milder and sweeter than onions, you can use the white bulb at the bottom in the same way you would cook onions, and the the leafy greens can be used as you would green onions.
Best Leek Recipes
There are honestly so many ways to cook with leeks, from leek tarts, to leek fritters, to leek and goat cheese pie, to even leek curry. You can even make leek risotto, toss sautéed leeks in a salad, add them to a creamy leek pea mash or make baked eggs in creamy spinach and leeks. Another huge favorite of mine is to make a big pot of delicious potato leek soup, which is perfect for enjoying in the still-chilly days of spring as an appetizer or even as a light meal.
Leek Soup Recipes
Probably one of the most common leek soup recipes is potato and leek soup, but there are also many other variations. From asparagus and leek soup, to broccoli leek soup and cauliflower leek soup, there are plenty of alternatives to use this delicious vegetable in soups.
How to Cut Leeks
Leeks can have grainy bits of sand in between their fibrous stalks, so the best way to clean cut them is to slice in half, length-wise, then gently rise in water without dismantling if you want them whole. Or cut in half, then slice them and place in a bowl of warm water before draining. Here are 50 of the best leek recipes to embrace this beautiful spring vegetable! Browse through them, make sure to pin your favorites and let’s cook leeks! Next Up, 26 easy spring side dishes.
