Learn everything you need to know about leeks in this ultimate guide. With a sweet onion-like flavor, leeks are an immune-boosting ingredient to add to your daily recipes. Learn how to choose fresh leeks, store them, prepare them and most importantly, the best recipes to include them in.
As part of the garlic and onion family, leeks have a distinctive flavor that shines through in any recipe. They’re easy to grow, can be easily substituted for onion and bring a subtle elegance to any dishes they’re included in.
In fact, adding chopped leeks or topping a dish with sliced leeks immediately increases both the aesthetics and flavor. Learn more about how to incorporate this spring vegetable into your diet and brighten the color of your favorite recipes.
Nutritional Benefits Of Leeks
Leeks are wonderful because they’re both low in calories and high in nutrition. They’re a great source of:
- Vitamins A and K
- Folate and manganese
- B6 vitamin
In fact, adding leeks to your diet can help improve digestion and fight inflammation.
How To Buy Leeks
Below you’ll find all the information you need to buy, store and prepare leeks. With such a vibrant green color, you may be surprised to learn that it’s the white stalks you primarily use from this spring vegetable and not the thicker green section.
When Are Leeks in Season?
The best season to purchase fresh leeks is the spring. Specifically, from March through April. Outside of that, the leeks you find at the grocery store won’t be as fresh or flavorful.
How To Choose Fresh Leeks
Similar to green onions, when you’re buying leeks, look for them to be straight, firm and bright green. Any kind of wilting or yellowness of the tops means that they’ve lost their freshness.
The smaller in diameter the leeks are, the more tender they’ll be. You’ll want to avoid stalks that are more than 1.5 inches wide for this reason.
Since the best part of a leek is the white stem, try to purchase ones with long stems so that you get the most out of this vegetable.
How To Store Leeks
Leeks can be stored as-is in the fridge for 5-10 days. Meaning, don’t wash or rinse your leeks until you’re ready to use them. Either store them in the bag you brought them home in or pop them into a container with the lid cracked.
How To Freeze Leeks
You can actually freeze your links for later use. To do this, wash your leeks to remove any dirt. Then, cut them into slices as you would use them and dry the slices lightly with a dish towel.
Store the sliced leeks in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer for 4-6 months. When you need them, use them right out of the freezer in your soups, sauces and dinners.
How To Prepare Leeks
Before you’re ready to enjoy leeks, make sure to clean them thoroughly as they contain a lot of dirt from growing.
To clean leeks:
- Trim the top and bottom.
- Cut lengthwise down the stalk.
- Chop the stalks into half circles.
- Place the sliced leeks into a bowl of water and gently rub them with your hands to let the dirt fall off. This is best done in batches.
- Once the dirt settles at the bottom, get fresh water and repeat.
Check out this post on how to cut leeks for a more detailed step-by-step guide.
Once they’re prepped, leeks can be enjoyed pureed into soups, slow-cooked in sauce or topped on dishes to add more flavor.
Leek Varieties
There are both winter leeks and summer leeks and each one has a slightly different flavor.
Winter leeks are harvested in the beginning of spring and tend to be heartier and more flavorful.
Summer leeks will be smaller and much milder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leeks
As part of the onion family, leeks do have a similar taste. However, they’re much milder and tend to have a slightly sweeter flavor to them.
Leeks can be chopped and used in sauces, soups and stews. They can be added into pasta or casseroles for extra flavor. Or, you can simply use them as a garnish on your favorite dishes for a pop of color and mild flavor.
Yes! While most recipes call for the leeks to be added into sauces, soups or casseroles, leeks can easily be eaten raw as well. They are much milder than onion so they make a great topping on salads, wraps, and other dishes.
The Best Leek Recipes
Below you’ll find some new inspiration to cook leeks. Stock up when they’re in season and check out some of the delicious recipes below to find creative and tasty ways to enjoy this spring vegetable.
Leek Apple Cheddar Soup
Rosemary Leek Cannellini Cakes
Chicken with Leeks Apples and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Sun Dried Tomato Leek Muffins
Soba Noodles with Leeks, Sweet Onions and Egg
Buckwheat Risotto with Mushrooms and Leeks
Buttered Sautéed Leeks
Creamy Vegan Potato Leek Soup
Smoky White Cheddar Mac and Cheese with Leeks
Fried Leek Rings and Homemade Ketchup
Mashed Potatoes with Leeks
Cheesy Leeks and Orzo
Vichyssoise
Scrambled Eggs with Leeks
Chunky Potato Leek Soup
More Spring Vegetable Guides
A Guide to Asparagus
A Guide to Radishes
A Guide to Artichokes
A Guide To Peas
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I am not sure if I had have had leeks before. What do they taste like? They remind me of scallions.
leeks taste like a milder onion.
I had so many fat and sassy leeks in my Fall CSA farm share that I sliced and froze bags of them–and I’ve been adding leeks to a variety of dishes. So handy and so tasty!
Thanks for including my Cheesy Leeks!
Have leeks and salmon in the oven as we speak :) Great recipe roundup
i bought them only last week and made this soup adapted from here https://www.loveandlemons.com/2013/01/14/creamy-cauliflower-leek-soup/
I love leeks. I have already shared on my blog several recipes for leeks, (potato-leek soup, sauteed, and in burgers) but that doesn’t even reflect how often I eat them. I use them almost twice a week. I love their flavor is soups, stews, and basically anywhere I might think using and onion in. Great veggie! I’m just sorry that I started eating it in my late 20s and not before that!!!
I feel the same way about those little circles of sliced leek – irresistible! Thanks for the info (and the impulse to head to the farmer’s market this morning)…all of the recipes sound wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing a link to one of mine! :)
I’ve only had leeks a couple times, but I really enjoyed them. So good/healthy for you!
Thanks for the info!
Leeks are my absolute FAVORITE. I try to use them in almost all of my savory dishes!