Best Fried Leeks Recipes

CHINESE-STYLE STIR-FRIED BROCCOLI, CARROTS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Trim the broccoli, discarding thick stems and leaves. Cut into flowerets. Slice carrots and leeks thinly.
• In a wok or large saute pan, heat the peanut oil. Add minced garlic and ginger and stir-fry briefly to flavor the oil. Add broccoli, carrots and leeks and toss briefly to mix well. Add chicken broth, cover and cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Remove cover, raise heat, and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
• While vegetables are cooking, toast sesame seeds in a separate saute pan until they are golden brown. Set aside.
• When vegetables are done, add soy sauce and mix well. Remove from heat, turn into a warm serving bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds and sesame oil. Serve immediately.

FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pot heat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Clean and julienne leeks. Sift cornstarch and flour together. Dust leeks in flour/cornstarch and fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Drain on a paper towel, season with salt. See Cook's Note.

CRISPY FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Pour peanut oil into heavy small saucepan to depth of 1 inch; heat to 350°F. Fry leeks in small batches until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried leeks to paper towels to drain.

PAN-FRIED HONEY-LEMON FINGERLING POTATOES AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Gently poach the fingerlings for 5 minutes. Drain the potatoes, cut in half and dry thoroughly.
• Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Melt the butter, add the leeks and season with salt and pepper. Saute until softened, about 8 minutes. Set aside.
• In the same pan, heat the olive oil. Put the fingerlings cut-side down in the pan and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes; flip and repeat on the skin side. Add back the leeks, drizzle with the honey and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the parsley and lemon zest. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

POTATO CHOWDER WITH PAN-FRIED SCALLOPS AND CRISPY LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the oil and leeks and cook for 2-3 minutes or until soft. Add the potatoes, stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are softened. Place the potato mixture in a food processor and process until smooth. Return the chowder to the saucepan, stir in the cream, season with the salt and pepper and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Heat a medium frying pan over high heat. Brush the scallops with olive oil and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side or until golden. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the extra leeks and cook for 1 minute or until golden. Drain on absorbent paper. Top soup with scallops and leeks to serve.

FRIED LEEKS (GARNISH)

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pot heat oil to 350 degrees F. Sift cornstarch and flour together.
• Dust leeks in flour/cornstarch and fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Drain on a paper towel, season with sea salt.

STIR-FRIED LEEKS WITH GINGER AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Put half the oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over high heat. When a bit of smoke appears, add the leeks all at once. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then cook, stirring only occasionally, for about 10 minutes. When the leeks dry out and begin to brown, remove them from the pan and set aside.
• With the heat still on high, add the remaining oil to the pan, immediately followed by the shrimp; sprinkle with the ginger. Cook for about a minute and stir. Cook, stirring every minute or so, until the shrimp are almost all pink. Add the leeks, along with some salt and pepper. When the shrimp are done (no traces of gray will remain), stir in the liquid if desired, taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve.
• Shrimp
• Almost all shrimp are frozen before sale. So unless you're in a hurry, you might as well buy them frozen and defrost them yourself; this will guarantee you that they are defrosted just before you cook them, therefore retaining peak quality.
• There are no universal standards for shrimp size; large and medium don't mean much. Therefore, it pays to learn to judge shrimp size by the number per pound, as retailers do. Shrimp labeled 16/20, for example, contain sixteen to twenty per pound; those labeled U-20 require fewer (under) twenty to make a pound. Shrimp from fifteen to about thirty per pound usually give the best combination of flavor, ease (peeling tiny shrimp is a nuisance), and value (really big shrimp usually cost more than $15 a pound).
• On deveining: I don't. You can, if you like, but it's a thankless task, and there isn't one person in a hundred who could blind-taste the difference between shrimp that have and have not been deveined.

PISTACHIO-CRUSTED PORK WITH PLUM SAUCE AND FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock, oyster sauce, plum sauce, mirin, orange juice, chili-garlic sauce and kaffir lime leaves in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 cup, whisking occasionally, about 25 minutes. Whisk in apple cider vinegar and sugar. Remove from heat. (Sauce can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Remove lime leaves.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat sesame oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Sauté pork until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer pork to work surface; brush each piece with sauce and dip in pistachios, turning to coat. Transfer pork to rimmed baking sheet. Bake until thermometer inserted into center registers 150°F, about 10 minutes.
• Bring sauce to boil. Add butter one piece at a time, whisking just until melted before adding next piece. Transfer 2 pork medallions to each of 6 plates. Drizzle sauce around pork. Top with fried leeks, if desired. Serve immediately.
• *Available at Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets.
• **Leaves of the kaffir lime tree; available frozen or sometimes fresh at Asian markets. If unavailable, substitute 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1 teaspoon grated lime peel.

FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Toss leeks, flour, and pinch each salt and pepper in medium bowl. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet until shimmering. Add half of leeks and fry, stirring often, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer leeks to paper towel-lined plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Repeat with remaining leeks.

FRIED CUCUMBERS WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Thinly slice the cucumbers and layer on paper towles to absorb the moisture, allow to drain for at least 30 minutes.
• Trim off the root end of the leeks and discard; juliienne the white part of the leeks only, discarding the dark green tops; Rinse the leeks in cold water and drain very well.
• Heat a large non-stick frying pan and add oil, butter, and cucumbers; Saute over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, tossing ALL the time.
• Brown the cucumbers and add the leeks and parsley, saute for 2 to 3 minutes more, until the leeks collapse, add salt and pepper to taste, serve.

PAN FRIED TROUT WITH LEEKS, ALMONDS AND CAPERS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine sour cream, chives and lemon juice. Place in refrigerator. Place white leeks in a bowl of cold water. Place light green leeks in a second bowl of cold water. Shake bowls until grit is dislodged, drain and rinse again. Bring white wine, bay leaf and a pinch each of salt and pepper to simmer in a small pot over high heat. Add white leeks and reduce heat to medium. simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. In a large saute pan over medium heat, saute light green leeks with 1 tbsp butter and a pinch of salt until just softened, about 2 minutes. Remove white leeks from cooking liquid and add to saute pan with light green leeks. Cook leeks together until flavors meld, 2 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Season trout fillets with salt and pepper. Wipe saute pan clean and place back over high heat. Add 1 12 tbsp butter and melt until just foaming. Place 2 fillets, skin side down into pan. Cook until skin crisps, 2 minutes. Flip and add 1/2 tbsp butter, half the chopped almonds and half the capers. Reduce heat to medium and saute fish until just cooked through and flesh flakes, about 2 minutes. more. Transfer fish, skin side up to a plate along with almonds and capers. Repeat with remaining fish. To serve, spread seasoned, chilled sour cream across four plates. Spoon leeks over top and nestle trout fillets, skin side up, into leeks. Spoon capers and almonds over fish and garnish with chopped parsley.

STIR-FRIED PRAWNS WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the tails intact.
• Rinse the leeks well. Cut them first into 1 1/2 inch lengths and then lengthways into fine shreds.
• Slit open the chilli, remove and discard the seeds and cut the flesh into fine shreds.
• Cut the ginger into fine shreds.
• Heat a little of the oil in a wok and stir-fry the prawns in batches until just pink; remove from the wok.
• Add the remaining oil and stir-fry the leeks, chilli and ginger over high heat for 40 seconds, then push to one side of the wok.
• Return the prawns to the wok and stir-fry for about 1 1/2 minutes, or until just cooked through.
• Add the soy sauce and mirin to the pan.
• Mix the chicken broth and cornstarch and pour inches.
• Cook on high heat, stirring, until thickened.
• Serve immediately.

PISTACHIO-CRUSTED PORK WITH PLUM SAUCE AND FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock, oyster sauce, plum sauce, mirin, orange juice, chili-garlic sauce and kaffir lime leaves in heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 cup, whisking occasionally, about 25 minutes. Whisk in apple cider vinegar and sugar. Remove from heat. (Sauce can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Remove lime leaves.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Heat sesame oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Sauté pork until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer pork to work surface; brush each piece with sauce and dip in pistachios, turning to coat. Transfer pork to rimmed baking sheet. Bake until thermometer inserted into center registers 150°F, about 10 minutes.
• Slice the tenderloins into medallions.
• Bring sauce to boil. Add butter one piece at a time, whisking just until melted before adding next piece. Transfer 2 pork medallions to each of 6 plates. Drizzle sauce around pork. Top with fried leeks, if desired. Serve immediately.
• Crispy Fried Leeks:.
• Cut leeks into matchstick-size strips, white and pale green parts only.
• Pour peanut oil into heavy small saucepan to depth of 1 inch; heat to 350°F Fry leeks in small batches until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried leeks to paper towels to drain.
• **Leaves of the kaffir lime tree; available frozen or sometimes fresh at Asian markets. If unavailable, substitute 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1 teaspoon grated lime peel.

GREEK SALAD WITH FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in an 8-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Fry leeks in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per batch, and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, salt, pepper, and oil. Add cucumber, tomatoes, and kalamata olives and toss to combine.
• Spread out Romaine on a large platter and cover with dressed vegetables. Top with grape leaves, chickpeas, leeks, and feta and serve.

PUMPKIN SOUP WITH ALLSPICE WHIPPED CREAM & FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Coat a large, deep pot with olive oil; add the leeks, carrots, celery, and garlic and bring to medium-high heat. Season with salt and sweat the veggies until they start to soften and are very aromatic, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the pumpkin and potato and sprinkle with salt. Stir to coat the mixture with the oil and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes; add the wine and reduce by half.
• Add the stock, thyme bundle, and bay leaves. Squeeze the orange halves directly into the soup, then add both halves. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Bring to a boil (BTB) and reduce to a simmer (RTS); cook for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove and discard the orange halves, thyme bundle, and bay leaves and use an immersion blender or upright blender to purée the soup (if you're using a regular blender, cool the mixture for about 5 minutes and work in batches). You want the purée to be very smooth and velvety, so purée the crap out of it! If the consistency is too thick, add a bit of water. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Heat an inch of oil in a small saucepan set over medium heat. While the oil heats, set up your drying situation next to the stove by putting a couple layers of paper towels on a baking sheet. When the oil is hot, working in batches, fry the leeks until crispy and brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or fish spatula to remove the leeks and set them on the paper towels to drain; sprinkle with salt.
• Use a hand or stand mixer-or if you're feeling strong, a regular old whisk-to whip the cream and allspice until the cream holds its shape in soft peaks (see page 234).
• Ladle the soup into serving bowls, top with a dollop of the whipped cream, and garnish with the fried leeks.

BRAISED LEEKS WITH MOZZARELLA & A FRIED EGG RECIPE

Steps:

• 1) Trim tough green portions and root ends from leeks leaving about 5-6 inches of white and pale green portions. Discard any tough outer layers. Cut lengthwise and rinse under cold running water to remove dirt. Drain on paper towels. 2) Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook until butter is melted and starting to foam but not burn. Place leeks, cut side down, into pan. Squeeze lemon slices into pan and place slices next to leeks. Add thyme sprigs to pan. Cooke 3-4 minutes, or until leeks start to brown. Flip, season with salt, and cook an additional 3 minutes. Deglaze pan with chicken broth and wine, scraping up the brown bits with a wooden spoon. Flip leeks back over and bring liquid to boiling. Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer 15-20 minutes, or until leeks are easily pierced with a paring knife. 3) Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Mix in Dijon mustard and then breadcrumbs. Place leeks in a small gratin dish, cover with shredded mozzarella and bread crumb mixture. Broil 5-6 minutes, or until cheese is melted and breadcrumbs are golden brown. 4) Melt final 1-2 tablespoons butter in a large non-stick skillet (depending on size of pan), along with remaining tablespoon of oil. Crack egg on a flat surface and add to pan. Season with salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium low. Spoon or baste a little of the hot butter/oil onto the whites of the eggs until whites are set and opaque. 5) When leeks are done broiling, top with sunny side up egg and garnish with fresh thyme. Serve immediately!

STIR-FRIED LEEKS WITH AMARANTH AND GREEN GARLIC

Steps:

• Wash the amaranth, and trim away the thick ends of the stems. Cut the bottom, thicker parts of the stems into 1/2-inch lengths. If the leaves are very large, remove them and break off the stringy stems. Place the cut stems and leaves together in a large bowl. Have all the ingredients within arm's length of your pan.
• Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two from the surface. Swirl in 1 tablespoon of the oil by adding it to the sides of the wok and tilting it. Add the leeks, spring onion, garlic and ginger, and stir-fry for one to two minutes until the leeks have softened.
• Add the remaining oil, amaranth (stems and leaves), sesame seeds, salt, pepper and sugar. Turn the heat to high and stir-fry for two minutes, or until the leaves have wilted and the stems are crisp-tender. Add soy sauce to taste. Remove from the heat and serve with rice.

PORK CHOPS WITH TOMATO JAM AND FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a skillet. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
• 2. Stir in the tomatoes and mirin; cook over medium heat until the mixture is almost dry, about 15 minutes.
• 3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet. Sprinkle the chops with salt and pepper. Sear the chops until brown, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Transfer to the oven and cook until an instant-read thermometer reaches 145 degrees F, about 5 minutes.
• 4. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil to the pan. Thinly slice the white portion of the leek. Add the leeks to the hot oil and fry until crispy.