Leeks in White Wine Sauce | Delicious Braised Leeks Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make a white wine and leek sauce? ›

Sweat the leeks in the butter in a large pan over a low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and sweet. Add the wine and turn up the heat. Bubble to reduce the wine until it has almost evaporated (about 2 minutes). Stir in the cream, lower the heat and cook for 2 minutes until just coating the leeks.

Season leeks with soy, maple, sesame oil, and mirin. Top with sliced garlic and a few knobs of butter around the outside of the pan. Add just enough stock to cover leeks halfway, bring to a boil and pop into over to roast until caramelized and tender when pierced with a knife.

Soak the stalks in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes or so, then rinse under cold running water in the sink. The long soak allows the water to penetrate the leek's many layers, clearing out all the bits of debris. Once your veg is all cleaned up and dirt-free, it's time to get cookin'.

Arrange the leeks in one layer in a baking tray or earthenware dish and roast in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes until golden and almost caramelized. Keep your eye on them - I've seen many chefs burn baby leeks when cooking them this way and it drives me mad!

Top pairings

* Smooth dry white wines such as Chenin Blanc and unoaked or subtle oaked Chardonnay or Italian whites such as Gavi or Soave work with dishes that have a creamy texture or a light cheese sauce or leek dishes with eggs like a leek and cheese quiche.

Leeks: that underrated green part

This green part contains a lot of vitamin C and it can be used in many recipes. You only have to remove a few centimeters of the usually woody upper part from the leaves. Boiled leaves can be used for sauces, soups or casseroles. Or simply seasoned with oil and spices for a side dish.

Leeks are the mildest of the onion family and really shine when they're cooked, offering a lovely subtlety to dishes and a delicate, melty texture. Typically, the white and light green parts are consumed, while the dark green tops are left out, being full of fibers and hard to chew.

Leeks and wild ramps boast a variety of nutrients and beneficial compounds that may improve your digestion, promote weight loss, reduce inflammation, fight heart disease, and combat cancer. In addition, they may lower blood sugar levels, protect your brain, and fight infections.

Then, toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper and bake at 425° for about 20 minutes, or until they're tender. To sauté them, follow the cutting method described above, and warm a glug of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 5 minutes.

When leeks go to seed, it is normally due to being exposed to optimal temperatures followed by cold temperatures. In other words, a leek flowering is due to cold weather, not warm weather. When a leek flowers, it causes the neck or lower stem of the leek to become woody and tough and the leek will become bitter.

Why do you have to wash leeks very carefully? ›

Because leeks grow under the dirt, dirt gets in between the layers so you have to be careful about cleaning them. Instead of washing them and then cutting, you cut them first and then rinse them in a bowl of cool water.

When leeks are sliced or chopped, they can be used in place of onions or shallots in soups, stews, and casseroles. You can also showcase their subtle, sweet flavor in pasta dishes like our Red Lentil Rotini with Silken Leeks and Shiitakes or Vegan Penne with Artichokes, Leeks, and Lentils.

Leeks, like onions, can become bitter if they're cooked for too long or at too high a heat. Make sure to sauté leeks over medium heat until they are soft and translucent, not browned. Another reason could be using the green parts of the leek, which are more fibrous and have a stronger flavor.

To cook: Leeks can be boiled, braised or steamed. Sliced leeks should be cooked for 5-7 minutes until tender but still firm. Whole small leeks should be cooked for 10-15 minutes until tender but still firm, top with a cheese sauce and then brown under a preheated grill for 5 minutes or until golden.

You stop the roux browning when you add liquid to the roux. The liquid might be wine, broth, water, or liquid you ladle out of a pot of stew.

Adding wine to your favorite stews, sauces, and marinades adds rich and complex flavors that can't be achieved with other ingredients. When it comes to cooking with wine, there's something for everyone. You can braise beef with red wine, deglaze a pan of veggies with white wine, or something in between.

Water, Leek Flower (95%), Salt, Flavour Enhancer (E621), Preservative (E211).

You can try adding a roux or corn starch. If you choose to do one of these, make sure to put some of your sauce in a bowl, whisk in the roux or corn starch, and then add the whole thing back in your pot of sauce so your sauce doesn't end up with clumps.