Cheesy Leeks Food

CHEESY LEEKS à LA OLIVER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
• Trim, wash and slice the leeks, about 2cm thick, at an angle. Peel and slice the garlic, then pick the thyme leaves.
• Put a large casserole-type pan (ideally one you'd be happy to serve in) on a medium heat and add a drizzle of oil, the butter, thyme leaves and garlic.
• Cook until it begins to bubble and fry, then stir in the leeks. Continue cooking and checking on it every few minutes to stir and make sure it doesn't catch.
• At this point, you have two choices: one is good, one is great. You can either stir the rest of the ingredients into the leeks, grating in the Cheddar and Parmesan, and tearing in the brie, then put it into the oven to cook for 45 minutes uncovered, or, if you want the sweetest leeks in the world (and I think you do), do the following...
• Turn the heat under the pan down a little and cook the leeks for about 35 minutes, or until soft and intensely gorgeous, stirring every now and then.
• Season, then spoon it all into a dish, or leave in the pan.
• Stir in the cream and splash of water, grate over the Cheddar and Parmesan, then pull the brie into parts and bomb those on top.
• Pop in the oven for 15 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

CHEESY LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7. Lightly butter a shallow baking dish. (It will need to hold around 1 litre/1¾ pint.)
• A third-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Remove any tough or damaged leaves from the outside of the leeks if not already done. Trim the leeks, leaving all of the white part and some of the green.
• Cut the leeks into roughly 3cm/1¼in pieces and add to the water. Return to the boil and cook for 5 minutes, depending on the thickness, or until the leeks are tender. They are ready when the tip of a knife slides in easily. Drain in a colander over a large mixing bowl to reserve the cooking water.
• To make the sauce, return the empty pan to the heat, add the butter and melt gently. Stir in the flour and cook for 10-15 seconds stirring. Gradually add the milk and then a ladleful (around 100ml/3½fl oz) of the reserved cooking liquid, stirring or whisking well between each addition to make a smooth, creamy sauce.
• Add the mustard, half the cheese and season generously with salt and pepper. Simmer gently for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Scatter the leeks into the baking dish and pour the sauce on top. Mix the remaining cheese with the breadcrumbs, if using, and sprinkle on top. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown.

CHEESY LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the leeks into a steamer basket and steam for 6-8 mins until bright green and just becoming tender.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter and flour together in a saucepan, stirring until you have a thick paste. Add the milk, a splash at a time, stirring continuously until all the milk has been added. Cook for 2-3 mins more until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir in most of the Yeo valley Organic mature cheddar, the mustard and some seasoning.
• Fold the steamed leeks into the cheese sauce, then tip everything into an ovenproof baking dish. Scatter over the breadcrumbs, thyme and remaining cheese, then bake for 20 mins until golden, crisp on top and bubbling at the edges. Leave to stand for 5 mins before serving.

CHEESY BACON AND LEEK TOAST

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside 1 1/2 teaspoons of the drippings. Add the leek to the skillet with the bacon and cook until softened, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Combine the milk, 1 tablespoon butter and the mustard powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir until the butter melts. Gradually add the cheese; whisk until melted and smooth but do not boil. (The sauce may look separated.) Add the egg yolks and cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce; season with salt and pepper.
• Toast the bread and spread with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter; cut in half. Top with the bacon-leek mixture, then cover with the cheese sauce. Toss the watercress with the vinegar and the reserved drippings (rewarm if needed); season with salt and pepper. Serve with the toast.

CHEESY LEEKS & HAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan180C/gas 6. Cook the leeks in a pan of boiling salted water for 4-5 mins or until just tender. Drain and cool under a cold tap to stop them from cooking any further, then drain again well and pat dry on kitchen paper.
• Wrap each leek in a slice of ham, then arrange, side-by-side, in a large baking dish. Mix the cheddar in a bowl with the Dijon mustard and crème fraîche, until well combined. Season to taste. Spread over the leeks, then bake for 15-20 mins until bubbling and golden brown. Serve at once with plenty of crusty bread to mop up the juices.

LEEKS IN CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 200°C.
• Cut the root-ends from the leeks, and cut them in 5 cm (2 inch) pieces, keeping only the white parts and the tender green inner parts; wash well in water.
• Place the leeks in boiling water and simmer for 10 minutes; drain well, then arrange in a baking dish (I use a 1 1/2 liter size that is 14 1/2 cm square).
• As your leeks are simmering, put the milk, flour, butter, and bay leaf in a saucepan, and mix well.
• Bring to the boil, whisking continuously; simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture thickens.
• Add garlic powder, salt, mustard powder and nutmeg, then 3/4 of the grated cheese, whisking until it is completely melted.
• Remove the bayleaf, then pour the cheese sauce over the leeks.
• Top with remaining cheddar, and bake 20-30 minutes, until golden.
• If possible, let stand 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the cheese sauce to further"set" and to avoid burning your mouth.

CHEESY LEEK AND POTATO BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C.
• Boil potatoes. Cut leeks into 1 cm slices. Melt 1/2 of the butter in a pan and cook leeks for about 10 minutes.
• Drain and mash potatoes with the other 1/2 of butter, the egg and 3/4 of the cheese.
• Season to taste, stir in the leeks and turn into a large ovenproof dish.
• Top with remaining cheese and bake for about 10 minutes, until golden. Will take longer if you have prepared the dish in advance.