Leeks Au Gratin Delia Smith 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.

LEEKS AND CORN AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a small saucepan of salted water to a boil over medium heat and add the fresh corn kernels. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and adds to a small bowl. Set aside.
• Wash the leeks well, making sure to remove all the grit and sand which is hidden between the leaves. On a cutting board, cut the leeks in half lengthwise, then slice into half moons.
• Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and the leeks and saute until soft. Add the blanched corn and continue to cook for about 5 minutes allowing any water to evaporate. Add the heavy cream and Parmesan and mix well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the mixture to an oven proof casserole dish. Allow to cool down for 10 minutes.
• Mix the panko bread crumbs, chives and parsley together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the leeks and corn and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and serve hot.

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.

BUTTERED LEEKS

Steps:

• When the leeks are trimmed and washed, cut them all the way through vertically, then chop them into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Now place a small frying pan over a medium heat, add the butter and let it melt - it needs to lightly coat the surface of the pan. Now add the leeks and some seasoning, stir them around, then turn the heat down to low and let them cook gently for about 5 minutes without a lid, stirring them 2 or 3 times. There will be quite a lot of juice that collects in the pan, so use a draining spoon to serve.

LEEKS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cut off the root end and the tough leaf ends, then cut leeks lengthwise in half; cut halves crosswise into 3-in. pieces. Place cream, salt, pepper and leeks in a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Uncover; simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat; sprinkle with cheese., Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and leeks are tender, 15-20 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

POTATO & LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Pour the stock, cream and milk into a small saucepan, add the garlic and bay leaf and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and let the flavours infuse while you get on with the rest of the dish.
• Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C. Butter a 2 litre gratin dish well. Mix the potatoes, leeks and ham (if using) together in the dish, and spread out in an even layer. Pour over the stock mixture and tuck the bay leaf in the middle. Season and sprinkle with the cheese.
• Stand the dish on a baking tray to catch any spills. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Test the potatoes with a knife - they should be just beginning to soften. Remove the foil and bake for another 35-45 minutes, spooning some of the stock mixture over every now and again until the potatoes are tender. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

LEEKS AND POTATOES AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Cook leeks in boiling water; boil and slice potatoes.
• Drain both very well.
• Arrange the vegetables in a baking dish and pour the white sauce over them.
• Add the cheese, bread crumbs and seasonings; bake at 350F for 15 minutes or until heated through and bubbly.

POTATO LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 2-quart gratin dish. Wash the leeks to remove any grit and slice thinly crosswise.
• Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice the potatoes into rounds, 1/8-inch thick. Toss with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Layer the rounds in the gratin dish.
• Melt the 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, remaining salt and pepper, and thyme. Cook, stirring, until leeks are tender and golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Discard thyme and scatter the leeks over the potatoes.
• Add cream, garlic and bay leaf to the skillet, scraping up browned bits of leeks from the bottom of the pan. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Stir in nutmeg.
• Pour the cream over the leeks and potatoes and top with the Gruyère. Cover with aluminum foil and transfer to the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, uncover and bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Let cool slightly before serving.

LEEKS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Make sure leeks have been rinsed well.
• Cook in boiling salted water until slightly tender, about 5 minutes.
• Drain.
• Place cut side up in a greased baking dish.
• Pour cream over the leeks.
• Sprinkle with cheese, salt and pepper.
• Bake until cream has thickened and cheese is melted, about 10-15 minutes.
• Preheat broiler.
• Sprinkle bread crumbs over leeks.
• Place 4" from heat source and broil until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes.

LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Halve leeks lengthwise, leaving halves attached at root, and rinse well, shaking off water.
• In a large skillet, combine cream and leeks; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high; reduce to a medium simmer, cover, and cook 5 minutes. Uncover and simmer until leeks are tender, 15 minutes. Transfer leeks and sauce to a shallow 2-quart baking dish.
• Sprinkle with cheese and bake until golden and bubbling, about 35 minutes. Let gratin rest 10 minutes before serving.

LEEKS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom and side of shallow 2-quart casserole. Cut leeks into 1/2-inch pieces. In 3-quart saucepan, heat 2 inches water to boiling. Add leeks. Cover and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Cook flour, salt and pepper over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in leeks. Pour into casserole.
• In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and 2 teaspoons butter until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over casserole.
• Bake uncovered about 25 minutes or until 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.

LEEKS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Quarter eggs lengthwise.
• Arrange in a single layer in broiler-safe 2 qt round dish.
• Set aside.
• Remove green portion from leeks, and halve lengthwise.
• Wash thoroughly, and pat dry.
• Remove the roots, and cut the leeks lengthwise into thin strips (julienne).
• Heat 4 tbs of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add leek strips.
• Cook leeks until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Spoon leeks over eggs in dish.
• Melt remaining 2 tbs butter in a skillet.
• Whisk in flour.
• Add milk, cook until thickened and bubbly.
• Whisk in 1/4 cup of the white cheddar cheese, the Parmesan cheese, and the cayenne pepper.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour the sauce over the leeks and eggs in dish.
• Sprinkle with remaining white cheddar cheese.
• Bake uncovered about 10 minutes in 450 oven, or until the edges are bubbly and the top begins to brown.