Leeksposted in Vegetables and Beans by Kathy MaisterYou may have seen leeks at the grocery store and wondered what sort of vegetable they were.
Well, leeks are part of the onion family and, in fact, look like a giant version of green onions. However, the little green onion has a much stronger onion flavor then the leek. Another difference is that you need to cook leeks before eating them. Unlike an onion, you would not add an uncooked leek to a salad!
Green Onions Leeks are a very mellow version of an onion and when cut they have a beautiful variation in color. They go from white down by the root, to a yellow center, to a really dark green at the top.
Cut the leek just below the really dark green part. Those really dark, green leaves are very tough and you don’t eat them. Like an onion, the leek has a lot of layers on the inside, except that the leek has a lot more finer layers. Each of these layers has an amazing amount of sandy grit between them. Leeks have to get washed really well to get rid of all that grit. If you are going to cut the leaks into rings or small strips, do that first, and then put them in a bowl of cool water.
I’m using my salad spinner. The leeks will float to the top and the grit will sink to the bottom of the bowl. You will need to swish everything around a bit to make sure all the layers of leek are separated. You can then run them through your salad spinner or just lay them out on a towel to dry off. If you are going to cook the leek whole, you still have to cut it in half to wash it. (Or you could just make a cut half way through and spread open the leaves.) Fan out the layers with your fingers and let the water run through.
In my next post I will be making soup using these lovely leeks instead of onions!
(By the way, the leek is the national symbol of Wales!)
Cheers! If you are new to startcooking, or are a regular visitor here, please consider subscribing for free. 12 commentsAll vegetables (particularly tomatoes, lettuce, celery, cucumber, onions, carrots bell peppers and even parsley!) have diuretic properties. You can find more nutritional information on leeks here. Janelle If you read "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mireille Guiliano, she states that Leek's are a mild diuretic and low in calories, but highly nutritional. Forty-eight hours of Leek soup plus all the water you want will provide immediate results in rebalancing one's eating habits and a road to wellness. frank I have leeks in my gaden and would like to know other ways to cook them
Janelle You may find leek recipes at this website: http://food.yahoo.com/search?tp=recipe&p=leek Good Luck! Frank, you can also substitute onions for leeks. They have a milder flavor but they still make a perfection substitution. Jann Sommers You mention that you wouldn't eat a leek raw, but I think they taste great in a lettuce-type salad! Why not eat them raw? Good point! I just never have eaten them raw! I will have to give it a try. Megan If you have extra fresh leeks around that you don't plan on cooking up before they go bad, can you freeze them? Hi Megan, Leeks are much the same. Cut and wash the leeks and dry them completely. Freeze them in small portions. Like onions, leeks do get a bit mushy when frozen so it is best to use them in cooking when defrosted. Cheers! Barbara Kemski Thank you for information about handling and cooking leeks. I've never used them before, but am preparing a very special Irish Stew (in a crock pot) for the Superbowl Game. Go Colts!!! Hi Barbara, Good luck with your stew! Just remember that leeks are very sandy and need to be washed thoroughly. Have you tried my Guinness-Stout-Beef-Stew? It's perfect for this time of the year. Cheers, Post a Comment0 trackbacks |
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vanessa
Does anyone know the health value of this plant? I was told that it is a natural diuretic.