If you want to grow leeks now is the latest opportunity to put them in.
Try to get some well developed seedlings.

uli - 2016-01-02 18:34:00

samanya wrote:

This thread has inspired me to try growing leeks.
It's the one vegetable that I have never really liked ...maybe it goes back to childhood & it was served up in a white sauce. I like shallots, are they similar?

Hmm, sort of.....leeks are quite hard to explain! They're like a giant spring onion with a bit more bite and flavour. They are in the same family as onions, shallots and garlic but do have their own taste. Nice fresh ones are great to use in place of onions or shallots. You have to try them out to see if you like them, really. They're milder in flavour than onions....think of 'leek and potato soup' - it's really yummy and wouldn't be the same as 'leek and onion soup' which would be far too oniony (at least for my liking).

cameron-albany - 2016-01-02 18:37:00

Thanks Buzzy for the spring tip about leeks, I do think of them as a winter vege so should have twigged that spring would set them off, and I'll check for those disguises in future!

patsprat - 2016-01-02 19:49:00

uli wrote:

If you want to grow leeks now is the latest opportunity to put them in.
Try to get some well developed seedlings.

Thanks, I'll see if I can pick up some seedlings & hope they go well in my climate.

samanya - 2016-01-02 19:53:00

cameron-albany wrote:

Hmm, sort of.....leeks are quite hard to explain! They're like a giant spring onion with a bit more bite and flavour. They are in the same family as onions, shallots and garlic but do have their own taste. Nice fresh ones are great to use in place of onions or shallots. You have to try them out to see if you like them, really. They're milder in flavour than onions....think of 'leek and potato soup' - it's really yummy and wouldn't be the same as 'leek and onion soup' which would be far too oniony (at least for my liking).

Thanks for your description ...it's hard to describe taste, huh?
I will give them a go as I love most of the allium family.

samanya - 2016-01-02 19:56:00

bump for garden_art

uli - 2016-07-28 16:11:00

bump

bev00 - 2017-07-27 23:21:00

Gosh, this thread must have been going for a while. I was ignorant re leeks when it started & for the last two winters I have grown them & have come to like them a lot.
I use them in tarts mostly, similar to some of the recipes here, but lovely to have some more ideas to try ...thanks to all.
Still can't bring myself to try them the 'leeks & white sauce' of my childhood, though!

Edited by samanya at 10:45 am, Fri 28 Jul

samanya - 2017-07-28 10:43:00

We enjoy this

https://www.otagofarmersmarket.org.nz/recipe/318/LEEK-GRATIN

rainrain1 - 2017-07-28 11:08:00

rainrain1 wrote:

We enjoy this

https://www.otagofarmersmarket.org.nz/recipe/318/LEEK-GRATIN

That's a good many steps up from the crappy sauce my mother used to serve leeks up with!

samanya - 2017-07-28 11:22:00

samanya wrote:

That's a good many steps up from the crappy sauce my mother used to serve leeks up with!

I don't remember eating leeks when I was a kid....my mother was a good cook, I don't recall any meaIs I didn't like, I haven't changed much, still eat most things

rainrain1 - 2017-07-28 13:37:00

rainrain1 wrote:

I don't remember eating leeks when I was a kid....my mother was a good cook, I don't recall any meaIs I didn't like, I haven't changed much, still eat most things

My mother was an OK cook & the funny thing is now when I offer her leeks, she she says she doesn't like them!
I politely reminded her that she used to serve them up to us & I hated them.

samanya - 2017-07-28 16:27:00

arielbooks wrote:

My mums Leek Pie.

I usually use flakey pastry but you can use your favourite.

Line baking tin with pastry, layer with bacon slices, top with cooked leeks in big chunks, beat eggs with a bit of milk seasoned with salt pepper and curry powder, put pastry top on and bake till cooked.

Similar one from vege grower using miniature leeks. Layer a greased baking dish with leeks and pumpkin chunks and make a custard using eggs and coconut cream with smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Bake until vege is cooked and custard is set.

I made the first recipe today, with bacon, leeks, and pumpkin....it's really good...thanks much

rainrain1 - 2017-07-28 18:01:00

Leeks at Pak.n.Save were $1.20 each and about half a meter long! Mine are not so big this year despite being planted before Xmas.

uli - 2018-07-06 17:45:00

uli wrote:

Leeks at Pak.n.Save were $1.20 each and about half a meter long! Mine are not so big this year despite being planted before Xmas.

$1 each from my local Sunday market, made a great tasty soup and a leek and bacon quiche with my supply.

Edited by nauru at 6:08 pm, Fri 6 Jul

nauru - 2018-07-06 18:07:00

Thanks for bumping this thread ...it's the 3rd season that I'v grown leeks & I have to say I like them now, but not as a vege side dish, more incorporated into other dishes & I'm always looking for different ways of having them.
I have heaps & they are big & beautiful.
I have a chuckle when I see them in the supermarket for $2 + each.
I often take a couple for a 'sales table' at a club I belong to & they are snapped up quickly.

samanya - 2018-07-06 18:28:00

One of my favourite ways of cooking leeks is Leeks a la Greque - quite a "healthy" recipe, too. It's also nice using this recipe for green beans in season, using a shorter cooking time. This is the Julie Buiso version
https://www.radionz.co.nz/collections/recipes/leeks-a-la-gre
cque
Rather different from the usual more creamy recipes...... and makes a great cold dish, too

Leeks a la Grecque Serves 6)
Ingredients
4 leeks, trimmed, well washed and sliced
1 Tbsp finely chopped tarragon, or ½ Tbsp dried tarragon
1 Tbsp finely chopped parsley
2-3 sprigs of thyme or lemon thyme
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tomatoes, skinned and chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup water
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Method
Put all ingredients in a large saucepan and cook over a medium heat, stirring often, until all the liquid has been driven off, 12-15 minutes. Take care during the last few minutes to ensure that the vegetables don't catch on the bottom of the pan.

If the liquid has evaporated and the leeks aren't tender enough, add a tablespoon or two of water and keep cooking until they are. Serve hot or at room temperature.

autumnwinds - 2018-07-06 22:00:00

A slow Cooker recipe straight out of my mind.

Chicken Nibbles are great with this, also chopped up whole chicken legs but skin removed.

Into a slow cooker enough chicken meat pieces to fill half of cooker then add at least two sliced leeks, a packet or two of Maggi Cream of Chicken Soup and about 2 to 3 cups of water. The water is crucial as you either want a stew type meal or a soup. I usually add the water before the leeks and enough only to be about a half inch below the upper level of chicken,

Slow cook all o high for 4 to 6 hours, or high for 4 hours then on low or on low for the whole day.

Before serving, season to taste, salt and pepper plus any others like Worcestershire sauce etc, a very good stir helps during cooking if about helps too.
If going for a stew type then you make want to thicken into a sauce by adding a thickening mixture using a bit of flour and water to suit.

Edited by homecleaner_aa1 at 7:57 am, Sat 7 Jul

homecleaner_aa1 - 2018-07-07 07:54:00

I noted the big Matt man from Oz Masterchef, mention scrambled eggs and creamed leeks would go well together.....I have googled creamed leeks, and they sound all good, so I might have to try them.

Edited by rainrain1 at 8:18 am, Sat 7 Jul

rainrain1 - 2018-07-07 08:18:00

samanya wrote:

My mother was an OK cook & the funny thing is now when I offer her leeks, she she says she doesn't like them!
I politely reminded her that she used to serve them up to us & I hated them.

Said; 'If I knew that you didn't like them, I wouldn't have given them to you'. My sister detested, loathed and abhorred leeks in any form.

amasser - 2018-07-07 12:29:00

I place leeks in boiling salted water and simmer for about 10 mins. Slice lengthwise and wrap in a thin slice of ham. Place in a greased dish and top with fresh breadcrumbs and grated cheese. Bake for 15 mins or so until tender and the topping is nice and crunchie. If I see any grit when I slice the leeks I pour the boiling cooking water over to remove it.

crazynana - 2018-07-07 14:28:00

add to a chicken pie, saute leeks onion and any vege you want add cooked chichen add cheese sauce and make pie

gardner12 - 2018-07-08 16:43:00

bump

bev00 - 2019-07-04 23:34:00

Sliced leeks and cabbage mixed together sauteed in butter for a quick vegetable, bit of salt and white pepper

rainrain1 - 2019-07-05 08:42:00

People voluntarily eat leeks? Incredible!

amasser - 2019-07-05 10:49:00

I find onions to strong for me,so if recipe calls for them I always substitute lthem with leeks, all good,

pollypanner - 2019-07-13 20:36:00

amasser wrote:

People voluntarily eat leeks? Incredible!

Umm yes we do - there is even a country where they have leeks in their national emblem.

uli - 2019-07-21 17:37:00