Roasted Potato Fans With Creamed Leeks Food

CREAMY POTATO AND LEEK GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Generously butter a 3-qt shallow baking dish. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit just inside a 12-inch heavy skillet, then set parchment aside.
• Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch pieces (you should have about 8 cups). Wash leeks.
• Cook leeks in butter with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, covered with parchment round, in skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel potatoes and slice crosswise 1/16 inch thick with slicer. Transfer to a large heavy pot with cream, milk, thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally (liquid will thicken). Stir in leeks, then transfer to baking dish.
• Bake, uncovered, until potatoes are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Do Ahead
• Gratin can be baked 2 days ahead and chilled. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, then reheat, covered, in a 350°F oven until hot, about 30 minutes.

CREAMY POTATO AND LEEK SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir leeks, garlic, salt, and pepper in the hot butter until leeks are tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Stir chicken broth and cornstarch together in a bowl until cornstarch is dissolved; pour over the leek mixture. Add potatoes to the broth mixture and bring to a boil; season with onion powder and garlic powder. Reduce heat, add half-and-half to broth mixture, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove pot from heat and blend soup using a hand blender until smooth; season with salt and pepper.

ROASTED POTATO FANS WITH CREAMED LEEKS

Steps:

• Trim leeks, discarding dark green part, and halve lengthwise. Cut leeks crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices and in a large bowl of cold water wash well. Drain leeks.
• In a 12-inch heavy ovenproof skillet cook leeks and onions in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 15 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Add broth in a stream, stirring, and simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste and remove skillet from heat.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Peel potatoes and halve lengthwise. Arrange each potato flat side down and make crosswise slices about 1/4 inch apart, cutting down to about 1/4 inch from flat side but not all the way through (a metal skewer inserted lengthwise about 1/4 inch from flat side will prevent slicing all the way through). Remove skewer if using.
• Arrange potato halves, flat sides down, in leek mixture and bring mixture to a simmer. Brush potatoes with butter and sprinkle with paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Bake mixture in lower third of oven 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender within and crisp and golden on top.