Best Leek And Fennel Mashed Potatoes Recipes

LEEK MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Put them into a large pot of cold water. Add a big pinch of salt and put the pot over high heat. When it comes to a boil, cook until the potatoes are just cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• While the potatoes are cooking, slice the leeks into small pieces and thoroughly wash to remove any dirt. Put a medium skillet over medium-low heat and add 2 tablespoons butter. When the butter is melted, add the leeks and season with salt and pepper. Cook the leeks until they are very soft, being careful not to let them color or burn, about 20 minutes.
• Drain the potatoes in a colander. Then put the potatoes back into the pot and let the potatoes dry out a bit while you finish the leeks.
• In a small pot over low heat, add the milk, the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, garlic and thyme and warm it up. Strain the garlic and thyme from the warm milk and stir the milk into the potatoes using a wooden spoon. Mash with a potato masher, breaking up the big lumps. Stir in the melted leeks, taste and season with salt and pepper. Reserve 2 cups for another use if desired, such as the Round 2 Recipe Thanksgiving Pie. Cover the rest and keep warm until ready to serve.

MASHED POTATOES WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Season generously with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the potatoes are very tender but not falling apart, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks, thyme and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until the leeks soften, 12 to 15 minutes; season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Drain the potatoes and return to the pot over low heat; cook until any excess water evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1½ sticks butter, reserving 1 tablespoon for topping, and mash with a potato masher until smooth and the butter has melted. Gradually mash in ½ cup milk and ½ teaspoon salt until creamy, adding up to ¼ cup more milk as needed. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the cooked leeks.
• Transfer the potatoes to a bowl; top with the remaining butter before serving.

POTATO-FENNEL GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the inside of a 10-by-15-by-2-inch (10-cup) baking dish.
• Remove the stalks from the fennel and cut the bulbs in half lengthwise. Remove the cores and thinly slice the bulbs crosswise, making approximately 4 cups of sliced fennel. Saute the fennel and onions in the olive oil and butter on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, until tender.
• Peel the potatoes, then thinly slice them by hand or with a mandoline. Mix the sliced potatoes in a large bowl with 2 cups of cream, 2 cups of Gruyère, salt, and pepper. Add the sauteed fennel and onion and mix well.
• Pour the potatoes into the baking dish. Press down to smooth the potatoes. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of cream and 1/2 cup of Gruyère and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, until the potatoes are very tender and the top is browned and bubbly. Allow to set for 10 minutes and serve.

LEEK AND GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan, place potatoes, leek, garlic, salt and broth. Cover and heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer covered 20 to 25 minutes or until tender (do not drain). Mash potato mixture with potato masher or electric mixer on low speed.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/4 cup whipping cream and the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until butter is melted. Add cream mixture to potato mixture; continue mashing until potatoes are light and fluffy. Add additional heated whipping cream for desired consistency. Stir in chives.

POTATO, LEEK AND FENNEL GRATIN

Steps:

• Rinse and trim off stalks of fennel. Discard the hard outer covering. Slice off bottom of bulbs and remove the center core. Slice the bulb lengthwise into 1/4" slices.
• Remove outer covering from the leeks and trim off the dark green sections. Slice remaining into 1/4" slices.
• Sauté fennel and leek slices in butter over med-high heat about 5 minutes in a large skillet. Add 3/4 tsp salt and 1 tsp thyme cover and simmer for about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Combine potato slices, flour and 1/2 tsp salt in zip-top bag and shake to coat. Arrange half of these slices in a well buttered 13"x9" baking dish.
• Mix whipping cream and milk. Pour half of this mixture over potatoes in pan. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of Gruyere cheese and 1 tsp of thyme. Spoon sautéed fennel/leeks over cheese and top with remaining potatoes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, 1 tsp thyme, and pepper.
• Bake, covered, at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until browned. Let stand 10 minutes.

MASHED POTATOES AND LEEKS WITH THYME

Steps:

• In an 8-quart kettle combine potatoes with cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring water to a boil and simmer potatoes until tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
• While potatoes are cooking, in a heavy skillet cook leeks in 4 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir in thyme and salt and pepper to taste.
• Drain potatoes in a colander and return to kettle. Dry potatoes over low heat, shaking kettle,1 minute. Cool potatoes just until they can be handled and peel. While potatoes are still warm, force through a ricer into a large bowl. In a small saucepan heat milk and cream until mixture just comes to a boil. Stir leeks and milk mixture into potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Spread potato mixture in a buttered 4-quart shallow baking dish. Chill potato mixture, covered, 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Dot potato mixture with remaining 2 tablespoons butter and bake, covered with foil, in middle of oven until heated through and butter is melted, about 15 minutes.

POTATO, LEEK AND FENNEL SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and fennel and sauté until leeks are translucent, about 7 minutes. Add broth and potatoes and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer soup until potatoes are very tender, about 25 minutes. Working in batches, purée soup in blender. Return to same pot. Rewarm soup if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with reserved fennel fronds and serve.

FENNEL MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Trim fronds from fennel and discard.
• Slice fennel into small, thin strips and place is large, preferably wide, saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add milk and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until fennel is tender, stirring once or twice; this will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat, then puree fennel mixture in a blender or food processor until it's fairly smooth.
• While fennel is cooking, peel potatoes and cut into quarters.
• Place in a large saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender; this will take about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain potatoes well and return to saucepan.
• Mash potatoes, then stir in hot fennel puree, sour cream, and salt.
• Taste; more salt may be needed.
• If mixture is not piping hot, heat in saucepan, over low, stirring often.
• Serve immediately.