15 Best Leek Recipes to Make the Most of the Versatile Veggie
Ree Drummond loves their “slightly oniony, but so beautifully mild” flavor.
Ree Drummond is a self-professed “leek freak,” as she puts it. “Their flavor is indescribable—slightly oniony, but so beautifully mild,” she says. Leeks are indeed part of the same family as onions (and garlic and chives) and resemble large green onions without the bulb. However, they’re much more subtle in flavor, becoming tender and slightly sweet when cooked down. “If you haven’t gotten into cooking with leeks, please give them a try,” Ree implores. And these leek recipes are a great place to start.
In some recipes here, the leeks are front and center—like Ree's favorite potato and leek pizza, her favorite pie at P-Town in Pawhuska, or the classic potato leek soup. (It’s so creamy and good that there are two spring soup recipes included!) In others, leeks are an important part of the supporting cast much like their onion cousins. Layer leeks as a bed for a roast chicken or make some flavorful vegetable broth, for example. You may not know the leeks are there at first taste, but they make a world of difference.
If you’re new to leeks, remember these two tips. First, much like scallions, the best parts to eat are the white and light green portions. The roots and the dark green ends are tough so slice them off. Second, their tight layers often trap dirt or sand, so make sure you wash them thoroughly. A rinse under cold water in a colander after they’re sliced should work just fine. Then once you’ve done that, these leek recipes are easy as can be!
Potato Leek Soup
This delicate soup may look super creamy (and it is!) but it also has layers of texture. Part of it is left purposely chunky to make it extra cozy, and the salty fried onions sprinkled on top add crunch.
Get the Potato Leek Soup recipe.
Chicken and Leek Pot Pie
Bring a lighter, springtime twist to classic comforting pot pie. The leeks are sweet and tender and pair perfectly with juicy chicken and an herby sauce. Frozen puff pastry makes it extra easy to throw together.
Get Ree’s Chicken and Leek Pot Pie recipe.
Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Spinach
You’re only a half hour away from a creamy, dreamy pasta dinner. If you use pre-washed baby spinach, all you have to do is mix it right in and the hot pasta will wilt it perfectly with no extra cooking.
Get Ree’s Pasta with Ham, Leeks and Spinach recipe.
Steamed Cod with Couscous
Here’s an easy weeknight dinner! Cod fillets are seasoned simply and steamed over a bed of leeks, Swiss chard, garlic, and oregano simmered in white wine and chicken broth. Serve with fluffy couscous for a complete meal.
Get Ree’s Steamed Cod with Couscous recipe.
Lemon Chicken-Orzo Soup
There are few things better than comforting chicken noodle soup. This twist is extra bright and flavorful thanks to a few changes: swapping onions for leeks and noodles for orzo, plus adding lemon zest and juice for pop.
Get Ree’s Lemon Chicken-Orzo Soup recipe.
Potato and Leek Pizza
Here is Ree’s favorite pizza! It features thin slices of Yukon Gold potatoes, salty bacon, sweet leeks, and of course, a lot of cheese. Make your own pizza dough or buy some from the store for an easy hack.
Get Ree’s Potato and Leek Pizza recipe.
Irish Stew
Don’t wait for St. Paddy’s to make this pure comfort food. Ree cooks her lamb with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, leeks, onion, and a handful of other ingredients to create this hearty stew. You can use beef chuck roast, too.
Get Ree’s Irish Stew recipe.
Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup
Make life even easier by making this classic soup in your multicooker instead. While that works its magic, you’ll have time to make a creamy pea and goat cheese crostini for a full meal.
Get Ree’s Instant Pot Potato Leek Soup recipe.
Cowboy Quiche
“This quiche recipe is merely a canvas for you,” says Ree. While her husband prefers onion, bacon, and cheese, you can swap out practically any mix-in you want. Ree’s favorite? Sauteed leeks!
Get Ree’s Cowboy Quiche recipe.
Roast Chicken
When you roast chicken on a bed of veggies and potatoes, it’s an all-in-one meal. Plus, the flavor of the chicken infuses the veggies, making them extra flavorful. Swap out your onions for leeks instead and you’ll love the sweeter results.
Get the Roast Chicken recipe.
Colcannon
If you’ve never had this delicious Irish dish, prepare yourself for your new favorite side. It’s like mashed potatoes with a hearty twist. There are buttery greens folded in. Swap out the green onions for leeks for a more tender flavor.
Get the Colcannon recipe.
Bruschetta with Leeks, Goat Cheese, and Bacon
Have company coming over? Ree says this “super easy and incredibly tasty appetizer” is the way to go. It only takes 20 minutes to throw together and goes perfectly with a bottle of chilled white wine.
Get Ree’s Bruschetta with Leeks, Goat Cheese, and Bacon recipe.
Irish Pizza
Here’s another fun twist on pizza! Potatoes, bacon, and leeks are layered with cheddar on a homemade crust. At the end, sprinkle some snipped chives over the top to enhance the oniony flavor.
Get the Irish Pizza recipe.
Vegetable Broth
Making homemade broth is one of the easiest ways to amplify the flavor in your recipes, save money, and use up leftover produce. In fact, if you want a way to use up those tougher green parts on the leeks, use them here!
Get the Vegetable Broth recipe.
Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks
Great news: Not only is the creamy pasta perfumed with meaty pancetta and delicate leeks, but it only takes 15 minutes to make from start to finish.
Get Ree’s Pasta with Pancetta and Leeks recipe.
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