Washing leeks is a tough job: the many layers of the spears mean that dirt and unloved lodgers can hide wonderfully and are not easy to wash off at first glance. With the right technique, however, it is not that difficult to clean the vegetables and prepare them for consumption.

Earth often hides under the leaves

preparation

First, use a very sharp kitchen knife to remove the roots and the outer, mostly unsightly leaves, and cut the stick in half. The leek can now be easily fanned out for washing.

Wash the leek thoroughly

  1. Clean the leeks under running water.
  2. To do this, first hold the bar with the closed side facing up. In this way, grains of sand and dirt particles can be rinsed off.
  3. Then turn the rod over and rinse the end well.
  4. Shake out thoroughly and dab with kitchen paper.

cut leek

Depending on the dish, the whole leek or just the light part of the leek is used. However, do not simply throw away any washed parts that you do not need, but collect them together with other leftover vegetables in a can in the freezer. So you always have fresh soup vegetables at hand when you need them.

You can cut the leeks into fine rings or cut them up into larger pieces, for example to gratinate them.

Sometimes a second wash is required

  1. If you notice when cutting that there are still sand residues in the leeks, carefully separate the rings with your fingers and put the leeks in a sieve.
  2. Thoroughly clean the vegetables again under running water until you can no longer discover any remains of soil.

More kitchen tips

  • Leeks are in season all year round.
  • From June to September you get mild summer leeks, which are well suited as a vegetable side dish.
  • The taste of winter leeks, which you can find in stores from October to May, is stronger and sharper. The darker the color of the leaves, the more intense the taste.
  • The dark green part of the leaves is also quite hard. Use them preferably as an aromatic soup ingredient.
  • When shopping, look out for crunchy sticks. Leeks whose root hairs have turned brown and whose leaves are already limp are no longer fresh and have already lost a lot of their great aroma.

tips

In some kitchens, leeks lead a shadowy existence and are only used to flavor soups. The vegetables can do so much more and taste fried, boiled and au gratin.

Category:

Vegetable garden