Simmered Leeks Food

SIMMERED LEEKS

Steps:

• Carefully clean leeks; cut off the stemmy bottoms and the dark green leaves, so you end up with with white and light green parts only (dirt can get in between the leaves, so wash them out well).
• Cut leeks lengthwise in quarters, then into about 1-inch squares.
• Heat oil in heavy wide saucepan or saute pan; add leeks, salt, pepper, and stir over low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add broth and bring to boil, cover and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, for about 10 to 15 minutes or until leeks are tender.
• Raise heat to medium, uncover and let juices reduce to about half.
• Be careful not to let burn.
• Taste and adjust seasoning, serve hot.
• Makes about 2-4 servings, depending on what you're using them for.

BRAISED LEEKS WITH MUSTARD CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
• Spread the chopped butter and oil over the base of a roasting pan large enough to hold the leeks in one layer.
• Add the leeks and roast for 10 minutes.
• Remove the leeks from the oven and turn them over in the pan.
• Roast for a further 10 minutes.
• Remove the leeks from the oven and add the stock.
• Roast for another 10 minutes or until the leeks have started to brown slightly and the stock has reduced.
• Remove the leeks from the oven and keep warm on the serving dish by covering them with aluminium foil.
• MAKING THE MUSTARD CREAM: Melt the remaining 50g of butter in a small sauté pan over a medium heat.
• Add the shallots and sauté for 5 minutes or until softened.
• Increase the heat a little, add the wine and slowly bring to the boil.
• Simmer until the liquid has reduced by half.
• Stir in the cream and simmer gently until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Stir in the mustard.
• Add half the chives and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle the leeks with the mustard cream and garnish with the remaining chives.
• Serve.

CREAMED LEEKS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat and gently sauté the leeks, onions, garlic and thyme for 5-10 minutes or until they have softened. In the last few minutes, add the teaspoon of brown sugar. Pour in the white wine and leave the pan over the heat for a further 5 minutes.
• Add the double cream, season to taste with the black pepper; and simmer gently for 5-6 minutes.
• Transfer the leeks and onions to an ovenproof dish and leave to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 180°C/355°F/gas 4.
• In a small bowl, combine the cheeses, nutmeg and nuts. If the leeks and onions mixture seems too thick, to be having the cheeses and nuts added to it, add a little more wine, a tiny bit at a time; then add the cheese and nuts mixture to the ovenproof dish containing the leeks and onions; and bake it in the oven for 20-30 minutes. The cheeses and nuts can serve as a topping for the leeks and onions or you can mix the cheeses into the leeks and onions mixture. Go with your preference.
• Serve hot, garnished with fresh chives.

MEATBALLS SIMMERED WITH LEEKS (KEFTEDES PRASSOSELINO)

Steps:

• Make the Meatballs:.
• Combine all the meatball ingredients in a large bowl and knead well.
• Cover and refrigerate for an hour.
• When ready to cook them, shape into golf ball sized portions (around 30).
• Place a large, heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Add the meatballs and brown them on all sides; do this in batches (do not over-cook, they will cook further with the leeks).
• Remove meat to a plate and pour off all the accumulated fat in the skillet.
• Reduce heat to low, add 4 tablespoons of butter and scrape up any bits of fond.
• Add the leeks and celery and slowly saute, stirring occasionally for about 8 minutes.
• Season with salt, pepper and paprika.
• Add the meatballs and stir everything together.
• Add just enough water to come about two thirds of the way up the meatballs.
• Cover and simmer over very low heat for about an hour, checking occasionally to make sure there is sufficient liquid to prevent scorching.
• If you like (it does add amazing richness to the dish), swirl two tablespoons of butter in the pan, tipping it to distribute the butter throughout the meat and leeks.
• Remove from heat, rest briefly, and serve.

SIMMERED LEEKS RECIPE

Steps:

• Carefully clean leeks; cut off the stemmy bottoms and the dark green leaves, so you end up with with white and light green parts only (dirt can get in between the leaves, so wash them out well). Cut leeks lengthwise in quarters, then into about 1-inch squares. Heat oil in heavy wide saucepan or saute pan; add leeks, salt, pepper, and stir over low heat for 5 minutes. Add broth and bring to boil, cover and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, for about 10 to 15 minutes or until leeks are tender. Raise heat to medium, uncover and let juices reduce to about half. Be careful not to let burn. Taste and adjust seasoning, serve hot. Makes about 2-4 servings, depending on what you're using them for.

BUTTERED LEEKS

Steps:

• Lightly saute the onion and garlic in a little of the butter until onion mix has softened.
• Place the leeks into salted, boiling water, reduce the heat to simmer and cook 2-3 minutes. Drain the leeek and refresh in icy cold water.
• Place the leek in a greased shallow casserole dish, dot with the butter and sprinkle with seasoning. Cover with lid or foil and cook at 180c for 20 minutes.
• Serve hot.

CREAMY ONE-POT MUSHROOM AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a wide, deep 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. When hot, add the olive oil and leeks, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and lightly golden, 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and mushrooms. Cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes, then stir and cook, undisturbed, until the mushrooms start to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. (This allows the water from the mushrooms to evaporate, encouraging caramelization.) Add the juice of one lemon half to deglaze the pan and stir to combine.
• Add the pasta and stock; stir well. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat. Begin tasting pasta 10 minutes after you add it. (All pasta shapes and brands will have different cooking times. You want the pasta to be just tender.)
• Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and add the butter and parsley. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir until butter is melted and dispersed. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, top with ricotta, red-pepper flakes (to taste) and more chopped parsley.