Braised Leeks With Parmesan Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Braised Leeks With Parmesan Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
5(900)
Notes
Read community notes

My friend Elizabeth tells me that even people who think they don't like leeks like this dish. The leeks are braised in wine and water or stock until soft and golden, then topped with Parmesan and run under a broiler, so you get a crunchy layer on top of soft cooked leeks. One of the tricks here is to discard the outer layers that become papery when you cook them, so that the whole leek will be soft and easy to cut through.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings

  • 6leeks, not too thick if possible
  • 2tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ½cup dry white wine, like sauvignon blanc
  • ounces Parmesan, freshly grated (⅓ cup)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

143 calories; 7 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 283 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Braised Leeks With Parmesan Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Cut the ends and the dark green leaves of the leeks, and cut in half lengthwise. Place in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, then run under the faucet to remove any sand that may be lingering in between the layers. Peel off thick outer layers and discard.

  2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet that will accommodate all of the leeks in one layer. Place the leeks in the pan, cut side down, and cook, shaking the pan and moving them around with tongs, until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the leeks over and cook on the other side until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn the leeks back over so that the cut side is down. Peel off the outer layers if they are papery, as they will not soften when the leeks are braised. Pour in the wine and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan, then add enough water or stock to come just to the top of the leeks. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until the leeks are thoroughly tender when pierced with a knife. Most of the liquid should have evaporated by this time. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.

  3. Step

    3

    Transfer the leeks to an oiled ovenproof pan if your skillet cannot go under the broiler. Using tongs, turn the leeks so that the flat side is up. If there is still a lot of liquid in the pan, pour it off. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the leeks. Place under the hot broiler until the cheese has melted and is beginning to color. Remove from the heat and serve.

Tip

  • Advance preparation: You can make this through Step 2 several hours before serving. Do not light the broiler until you're almost ready to serve, then proceed with Step 3.

Ratings

5

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900

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Me

I have to protest the heinous suggestion of dispcarding the liquid before broiling. This is PURE flavor. I poured it into a saucepan, added a pat of butter, and reduced on high heat for roughly 5 minutes. What a beautiful sauce!

Karen

I am a fan of leeks in general and this is a si ole healthy method of preparing them. If you don't want the cheese, I have topped with a sprinkle of buttered fresh bread crumbs or if your trying to tempt a picky child a scant topping of crushed potato chips.

Ellen

Fabulous! I have been braising leeks for years, but never have I come across a recipe that produces such a tender, flavorful result. I found I didn't need to shake the pan or move the leeks around with tongs. I just lightly browned them on each side in my Le Creuset enamel over cast iron gratin dish, added the wine and broth, and let them simmer while I tended to the meat. Finishing them took all of five minutes.

Stephen

Braise with white wine, cream, and a sprinkle of thyme. Then run it under the broiler with a light shaving of Swiss cheese. Serve with pork.

JFH

Here's another idea. Cut the leek in half but DO NOT cut through the root end. Leave at least an inch at root end so they stay together. You can always cut later before serving or before putting under broiler.

MiamiMe

I thought this was a great recipe. I couldn't resist throwing a pat of butter, sprigs of sage and Provence herb mix into the broth as the leeks were cooking. Instead of broiling the leeks I simply put the pan into the oven at 350 degrees and let the cheese melt. I felt that it allowed me to use less cheese for similar effect.Later I used the leftover broth to cook fresh kale. Both vegetable dishes turned out really nicely. Thank you.

BCB

Yes! A fair amount of work but you will find no better pairing with a steak! You pick the carb!

lee

Somehow some puff pastry wound up under my leeks and became the best thing I’ve ever had

Channa

I love this recipe. I had to keep it dairy-free so topped it with chopped roasted almonds just before serving.

Linda

Never had poireaux till I lived in France and they are a frequent stand alone vegetable as they are available fresh all winter. I didn't even know their name in English-leeks- till I came home. Poireau so much nicer

D.D. Chicago

Leeks are wonderful braised, but I would use medium sized and cut into two in. pieces. This keeps them together, and makes for easier handling. Follow the recipie as written.

Bettyanne

If pouring off the liquid, save and add a bit of butter in small pan and make as a sauce. Can use buttered bread crumbs instead of parm. Or smashed potato chips.

Cornelia Guest

Excellent! I had Gruyere cheese on hand so used that, plus homemade stock. Yum!

swalters

Used soft goat cheese as I had some lurking around. Divine.

JFH

I agree! I've done the same thing, plus I froze liquid as well as used in other sauces/soups.

Anna

Made this recipe with mirin instead of white wine. Faboulous!

Emma

Absolutely delicious! And like others said, don't discard the braising liquid! It makes for a delicious sauce.

Sarah N.

Pretty tasty! I admit I never figured out what was meant by "papery" outer layers - I feel like I peeled off more leek than I had and I'm not sure I needed to. But the end result was so sweet and flavorful. Others in the comments have it right - reduce the liquid into a sauce. I added a pinch of fresh thyme and just a little splash of milk to cut through the saltiness, then had the sauce + sauteed shrimp over angel hair pasta and the leeks on the side. Perfect weekday dinner.

Gina

Don’t discard those tough outer leaves. Chop them up and cook them in some stock or water and use for soup. Vegetable trimmings and peels in general are useful for making vegetable stock for soup or sauces. Can be frozen in ice cube trays and used year-round. (I had a thrifty German grandmother.)

Helane

Used vermouth and absolutely yummy

Allison Taylor

Everyone LOVED this dish! Make more than you think you need!

Tessa Y

I added in a can of cannellini beans when adding the broth and it turned out delicious. I left out the cheese because I’m dairy free and it still had a very rich flavor.

Iman Gareeboo

This is an amazingly simple and straightforward recipe. I don't generally cook with wine, so I used some veggie stock. I also adapted it to just one leek. Instead of throwing out the liquid, I poured it into a pot and added water, then poached eggs in it. It was a great way to get veggies and protein in flavor profile.

Cara W.

I've been wanting to try braised leeks for a long time, but didn't because thought my family might not like them. Wish I'd tried them sooner because everyone (including the teens) loved them. I may make them again tonight they were so good. Broiling seemed unnecessary because they were so carmelized and the parmesan melted easily on the stovetop so I omitted that step.

lee

Somehow some puff pastry wound up under my leeks and became the best thing I’ve ever had

Natalia

I made it with Catalan "calçots" instead of leeks, which are a bit sweeter and cook faster. They were delicious! I definitely will repeat that one.

J.P. Nelson

My leeks kept falling apart. Next time I’ll leave the end on and cut it after they’re cooked. I also didn’t need as much water as it called for. I fear I washed away some of the flavor. They cook really pretty quickly.

Jack

delicious again!

Emily

Good taste, but took a long time to prepare for not a huge payoff -- to me, these were good, not great.

E

I did not like this recipe at all. 1) Not tasty. 2) Bad texture - slimy eels of leeks. 3) 6 leeks don't fit in a pan. 4) Difficult to keep flipping the leek halves they completely fall apart 5) Frying the leeks makes a mess of the stove. 6) The liquid the author recommends discarding is more flavorful than the leeks. Needs breadcrumbs and more. Sorry Martha Shulman you are off the list.Why not just take the same ingredients and make a nice leek soup. Top with a crouton and melted cheese.

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Braised Leeks With Parmesan Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to cook leeks? ›

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.

Can you overcook leeks? ›

Leeks should never be browned, or overcooked, because it will turn them into slimy mush. Instead, cook them until they are tender. They need to be cooked carefully and with a watchful eye because it's easy to undercook and overcook them.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook 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.

How do I get the most out of my leeks? ›

Getting the Most out of Leeks
  1. Cut leek diagonally from point where leaves start to darken to middle of dark green portion.
  2. Peek inside to determine where light green turns dark. Cut diagonally again, preserving light portion.
  3. Repeat twice to create pointed shape with pale leaves. See Also.

How do you know when leeks are done cooking? ›

It's truly simple once you've cut them! Heat some olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium high heat, then add the leeks. Cook them, stirring often, until they are just soft and just before they begin to brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Keep your eye on them, because they can easily get browned if the heat is too high!

What does leeks do for your body? ›

Leeks are also a good source of folate, a B-vitamin that's essential for cell growth and development. In addition to vitamins and minerals, leeks are also high in fibre. This can help to keep your digestive system healthy and may reduce the risk of constipation, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

Why are my cooked leeks tough? ›

Dirt and grit: Leeks grow in sandy soil, and they can often contain dirt and grit between their many layers. To avoid a gritty texture, leeks should be thoroughly washed and cleaned before cooking. Tough outer layers: Leeks have several tough, fibrous layers that can be difficult to cut and chew.

Why are my leeks chewy? ›

Don't let them boil and don't let them go too long. They should be tender and silky, not mushy or stringy. Conversely, if not cooked enough, they'll be unpleasantly chewy.

Why do leeks go hard in the middle? ›

I'm thinking you may have an early maturing variety of leek as towards the end of the season leeks start to develop a hard core in the middle which is the stem of their flower; if they are bolting you can find this solid core even in the autumn.

How do you cook leeks Jamie Oliver? ›

Wash leeks thoroughly, making sure to get between the layers. Roughly chop or finely slice them, then steam, boil, braise, roast, stir-fry or sauté. Leeks are often used as a base ingredient in stocks, soups and stews, along with carrots, onion and celery.

Why don't you eat the green part of leeks? ›

The bulbs and lighter green leaves are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The darker green leaves are much tougher and along with the roots, should be removed before eating or cooking.

Why do you soak leeks in water? ›

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'.

What pairs well with leeks? ›

Leeks can be used in an endless amount of food combinations. Leeks, carrots, onions and celery are the essential aromatic vegetables that are used in European/Wesrern cooking. In culinary terms the above combination is referred to as ' Mire poix' which means roughly cut aromatic vegetables.

Can you eat too many leeks? ›

Leeks are a healthy food and, like most foods, can be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Eating large amounts of leeks, however, can have some negative effects. First, leeks are high in fiber and can cause digestive discomfort, bloating, and gas if consumed in large amounts.

Can dogs eat leeks? ›

Leeks are part of the Allium family (which also includes onion, chives, and garlic) and are poisonous to dogs and cats. Garlic is considered to be about 5-times as potent as onion and leeks. Certain breeds and species are more sensitive, including cats and Japanese breeds of dogs (e.g., Akita, Shiba Inu).

How long does it take to soften leeks? ›

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.

Do leeks get soft when cooked? ›

Leeks, on the other hand, are tougher than green onions and aren't typically eaten raw. Both green onions and leeks soften when they are cook, but leeks take a little longer to get there.

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