Due to their unique growing pattern, of having leaf sheaths tightly bound in a central “stalk”, these vegetables have very tough and stringy fibers running up and down their length. You may cut some of the above-ground leaves of the leek plant to encourage the growth of the bulb. Plus, fresh leeks cost a small fraction in Europe as what they’re sold for in the US. Place both halves cut-side down next to each other, and make thin, evenly spaced cuts across them. Carefully make a vertical slice down the … I’m back with a How-To Tuesday video tutorial that has come highly requested by many of you — how on earth to cut fresh leeks! % of people told us that this article helped them. Cut both ends. 2. Look for where the leeks turn from pale green to dark green and cut with a knife. You need to prepare leeks for use in a recipe by cleaning and trimming them. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Trim the root ends off the leeks and then cut the rest into consistent portions of no more than 5mm each if possible; The leaf part of the leek won’t need to be used so it can be discarded. Next, cut the leek in half lengthwise. Here's how to shop for them, store them, clean them, and cut them in a variety of ways. I’ve never had leeks because I didn’t know what to pick, how to use or anything! So I’ve been cooking with them more than ever here…which probably means they’ll start showing up in more of my blog recipes more than ever…so hence, today’s tutorial is all kinds of timely. Why was I so intimidated by them? Leeks are grown in the soil, which almost always sneaks in between all of those delicious layers. Slice the white and light green portion of the stalk into thin rounds, or julienne into 2-inch strips. How To Cut and Clean Leeks. It shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes to slice for recipes: Cutting: Cut off the root end of the leek. That's how you prepare your leeks. I left the bottom white root ends to try to regrow the leeks. Here's how to pre and cut leeks. Place them apart to remove all dirt and grit. Rinse the leeks well, being sure to fan out the leaves that tend to trap a lot of dirt and debris. Required fields are marked *, Rate this recipe How To Slice A LeekNow, we have our leek, we are going to cut it in half so that we can rinse it. How leeks should be cut depends on how they are intended to be served. Thank you so much! ★☆ You'll be left with the part that's white or pale yellow at the center, and pale green at the end where you chopped off the leaves. So as noted in the video above, be sure to always give them a good rinse before using them. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. You want to learn how to cut leeks but first you have to prep them. Use a sharp knife to cut the root at the bottom of the white part. First, you cut off the roots as close as possible so you do not lose too much of the white, fleshy… Step 2: Prepping Leeks Typically, you should use the light part of the leek for cooking, but you can also try the dark end for stocks. Make sure to rinse them thoroughly. But once you start cooking with them, they offer characteristics that you don't find in regular onions. 4. I grew up in a country where leeks were a staple e.g. Choose firm leeks with nice taut layers, and at least 3-inches of pure white base if possible. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 122,728 times. In this video, I’ll show you How to Trim, Cut and Clean Leeks. Choose firm leeks with nice taut layers, and at least 3-inches of pure white base if possible. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Please please please do a video on fresh artichokes!!!!! Rinse the leek. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. By using our site, you agree to our. 3 Slit the leek in half lengthwise. Then, cut off the dark green part of the leek at the top. ★☆ Cut off the dark green tops of the leaves. The easiest way is to half the leek width-wise (creating two, 2-inch sections). You can mince leeks being careful with your finger. Crop rotation. Hint: cut leeks in two lengthwise and then rinse leeks under WARM running water and fan out the layers like a book before slicing. Choose leeks that are no more than 1 1/2-inches in diameter if possible. Intact leek halves are great for baking and roasting, whereas chopped leeks are great for sautéing, frying, adding to soups, and eating raw. For half moons, slice your leek halves across the width into. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Check out this quick video to see my favorite method for cutting fresh leeks. Based on your liking, you may use them right away, or deep freeze them to preserve for later. How To Cut and Clean Leeks. Use a knife to cut off and discard the root end of the leek. In addition to their varied uses and mild flavor profile, leeks are also a good source of nutrition. Then, proceed with cutting your matchstick pieces. But once you start cooking with them, they offer characteristics that you don't find in regular onions. Discard the dark green top and the roots. Discard the dark green top and the roots. And they pair well with almost any herb, and have this magical ability to bring extra depth and flavor to any dish. 3. Rinse your leek to get rid of impurities and pat dry to soak in excess water. This post may contain affiliate links. Curious minds want to know! Thanks for posting! Use immediately, or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Put it into water, swish it around. Avoid damaging your counter by using a nonslip cutting board. Next, cut the leek in half lengthwise. You can cut them into much larger pieces than pictured above. Cooking renders them almost melt-in-your-mouth tender! Since they have loose layers, similar to their onion counterparts, this sand makes them very dirty so you can't just chop them up and eat them. Using a very sharp knife, slice along the curve of the leek as thinly as you like. If your recipe calls for large pieces or asks you to cut matchsticks, here's how you clean them. Leeks are like the refined and aloof European cousin of the onion family, who needs to be nudged before his true onion character emerges. References Remove the root and leaves. Locate the intersection of the light green stem and dark green leaves. No more!! Thank you so much for sharing, and also why did y’all pick Barcelona to live? Cut the leek in half lengthwise. At this point, you may cut or chop the leeks. more about me ». Place your leek lengthwise on a cutting board, then use a sharp knife to chop off the stringy root. Take a pot, large enough to hold all of the leeks. How to regrow leeks from root ends. If your leeks are a bit muddy or full of sand, split the vegetable lengthwise before rinsing. If you want to make the flavor milder, soak in iced water for about ten minutes then drain before tossing into a salad. They are great for making a chicken broth. The good news is that fresh leeks are actually incredibly easy to work with, and incredibly delicious. How to Poach Leeks. Last Updated: November 17, 2020 4. If you prefer leeks cut in the shapes of small discs, you can skip the second step and simply cut them cross-wise. (You can save the tops to flavor your soup stock.) Don’t keep too much greens, they are harder and difficult to cook. It is extremely easy to prep them. Rince thoroughly in cold water. Step 3: Cut the Leeks Cut the leeks into sections about 4 inches long. You will be cutting just above the base. Cut off the root end of the leek. Using a Vegetable Knife, trim off the root end. (Just give them a good look-over before using.). Step 3: Cut off the root end of the leek, just before the color fully changes to light green. This is my least favorite way to cut leeks because it takes longer to cut leek pieces into sticks. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Just put the cut leeks in a large colander and put it under cold, running water. 3. Thinly Slice Leeks: Take clean leek halves pieces and start at one end and slice into 1/8 inch thick slices. Leeks are a favorite with many families, as they are a good and healthy replacement for onions. Leeks form the base of many of my sauces, so instead of using onions I use leeks. Cut the leeks in half lengthways. Step 5 Leeks generally have quite a bit of sand and dirt between … Start with the cut sides down on the grill first. They can be eaten raw, added to soups, and included in meat and vegetarian dishes. My favorite thing in life is time spent around the table. Which parts are you supposed to eat? Try frying them to use as a garnish for meats or other dishes, or including them in a mixed vegetable dish with other julienned veggies. Cut into your leek lengthwise into the dark green leaves so to create a cross design. You can skip this step if you want to cut your leeks into half moons. Washing the leeks is also very important as they grow in soil and can carry quite a bit of trapped dirt. However, to cut and clean leeks in a proper way, needs some practice. Glad you showed soaking the leeks in the video. How you cut them really depends on how you're going to use them. Here are some useful tips, followed by my favorite leek soup recipe. Then we cut the leek in half lengthwise and then we cut it into small pieces. I actually never buy leaks because I am not sure how to prepare them.. Serve the grilled leeks on their own, with a spritz of lemon, or with a bit of aioli or romanesco splattered on top. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Pop them in there as soon as you bring them home from the market, and be sure that they’re nice and dry before storing. Though not necessary if you're an experienced cook, you might consider wearing cut-resistant gloves to avoid cuts. Then take the leeks and cut off most of the dark green leaves, leaving one-fourth inch of the greens on each stalks. Discard or compost the roots and leek tops (unless you plant on dehydrating them). Step 2: Prepping Leeks Typically, you should use the light part of the leek for cooking, but you can also try the dark end for stocks. The dark green tops of leeks are are tough so we need to remove them. I literally googled this 2 days ago! There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. This article has been viewed 122,728 times. Last Few Words. Leave the bulb itself intact. When I use leeks, the dark green I cut off I put into a Ziploc and place in freezer. All you will need is a really sharp knife and one of your favorite cutting boards. And interestingly, now that we’re living in Spain, leeks are absolutely everywhere here (like, literally, they’re sold in convenience stores), which is so fun! Here’s how to cut up a leek: Trim away the root and cut off the darker part of the top. So when I first started teaching myself how to cook and went to the store to pick up a batch, I found myself staring blankly in the produce section with all kinds of questions. If you guys like the videos please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and/or SHARE them with your friends! If you want to properly enjoy leeks and incorporate them into your cooking, it is important that you know how to cut and prepare them. Then, cut off the dark green part of the leek at the top. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Leeks make a great addition to stews, sauces, and many other meals. Step 3: Cut the Leeks Cut the leeks into sections about 4 inches long. ★☆. What are good fresh leeks supposed to look like? Cut off the dark green, stalky portion of the leek at the top. Make a cut and discard the green leaves. Rinse and drain the leeks one final time. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Trim off the top greens. Leave about 2 inches of pale green at the top. If your leeks don’t have the green leaves trimmed to about two inches, do that before placing them in the fridge (don’t cut them off altogether!). Tested. Or, julienne the leek into thin strips. Cover and cook until grill marks form, about 5 minutes. Step 5: Place the sliced rings into a bowl of water to remove any dirt or grit between the layers of the leaves. If you’re going to serve the leeks raw (as in a salad), simply slice the stalks thinly. Cut the leeks into pieces from 4 to 6 cm in length using the first section cut as a model 8. Using the dark green leaves as a handle, rinse the cut white and light green section of the leek under cool running water, fanning them apart to remove all dirt and grit as needed. Cut your leek piece into two lengthwise. Similarly, you can fine-cut the quarters if the recipe calls for chopped leeks. 30-Minute Creamy Mushroom and Leek Chicken Breasts, Creamy Leek and Pancetta Pappardelle For Two, Roasted Leek and Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Almonds, have as much white and light green as possible (the leek in the cover photo isn’t a great example ), are not yellowed (aim for either white or green hues), are crisp and firm and fresh (not withered or mushy or very blemished), are in season (peak season runs from October through May, although different regions may vary slightly).