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Feature Articles

What are Leeks?

Meet a Not-Too-Famous Onion

Discovering What We Don’t Know About Leeks

Alien Encounters:

Drumming Up Inspiration for Strange-Sounding Vegetables

A Week of Leeks:

Get to know Leeks, 7 Easy Ways

In Every Issue

Why We Love It

Partners in Flavor and Season

Leek Season

Vegetable Boosters

Picky Eater Tips

Money Saving Tricks

News from the Farm

Cooking School

Cooking Classes:

White Fish and Leeks en Papillote

Roasted Leeks and Butternut Squash Salad

Buying the Best

Storing for Flavor

Prepping Tricks & Tips

Cooking Basics

Recipes, Recipes, Recipes

13 Easy Recipes: Make

Leeks a Mid-Winter Favorite

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Leeks in Winter

Seasonal eaters benefit from knowing what is available at a particular time, since that is the basic palette available to create colorfully delicious meals. Leeks harvested in summer and fall, of course, have plenty of company, partnering nicely with practically everything from tomatoes, corn and red peppers to yellow squashes, eggplants and fennel.

Surprisingly, leeks have plenty of companions in mid-winter, too. Look at all the options below! In fact, all 20 of this month's recipes are created using a combination of what's leftover in storage from autumn, some pantry additions and accents, and a few strategic grocery store purchases.

Obviously, winter doesn’t have to put an end to fun and vibrant meals.

The Winter Palette: Good Flavor Mates for Leeks

Meats & Fish from the Freezer Pantry

Mushrooms

All The Time at the Market

Accents from the Refrigerator and Cupboard Pantries

Fruits: Oranges, Pomegranates
Fresh Tarragon. Lemongrass
Fresh Dairy Products: In the French tradition, leeks pair especially well with butter, cream, and cheeses like chevre, feta, parmesan and the Swiss varieties

Making Friends with Leeks

As mentioned in “Who Is This Vegetable and Why Don’t We Know It Better?” most of us don’t know leeks well enough to use them very much, and certainly not with a sense of adventure. That’s why they are featured as a Vegetable of the Month, with lots of opportunities for experimentation.

Start experimenting with, “A Week of Leeks,” which provides 7 easy leek ideas for 7 days. Also peruse the chart to the left. It identifies foods that pair well with leeks, which gives a deeper feel for this vegetable. Finally, try some of the ideas in the Recipe Section.

While leeks’ culinary roots may lie in French cooking, I have been delighted to discover that they are far more versatile than that, making excellent additions to a wide range of dishes, even those with Asian and Indian flavors.

Meats: Beef, Lamb, Pork, Turkey and Chicken (especially Bacon and Sausage)
Fish: Especially White Fish, Shrimp and Lobster

Lemons, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Fresh Garlic, Ginger Root, Prepared Mustards (all varieties), Whole Grain Breadcrumbs
Dried Herbs: Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Fennel Seeds, Dill, Nutmeg, Mustard Seeds
Nuts: Walnuts, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts

Fresh Winter Herbs: Rosemary, Sage, Chives, Parsley

Produce–Stored, Canned, Frozen, Year- Round

Stored: Winter Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Beets, Parsnips, Rutabagas, Carrots, Celery, Onions, Radishes, Cabbage
Frozen: Red and Yellow Peppers, Corn, Cauliflower, Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes
Year-Round: Mushrooms
Canned: Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts
Fruits: Dried and Fresh: Pears, Plums, Apples

Strategic Store Purchases

Grains and Beans

Winter Herbs Growing in the Kitchen or Left in the Garden

Beans: Best with white beans, although other varieties are worth a try
Grains: Good with all, but rice, risotto and millet are particularly good

Oyster Mushrooms

Button Mushrooms

Shitake Mushrooms

Trumpet Mushrooms