LEEKS - The Healthy Choice!

Known as ‘The poor man’s asparagus’, leeks have been a British culinary staple for generations. They might have taken a backseat in recent years, but they are now back, undergoing a welcome revival in popularity and oozing with real flavour.

The great news for leek lovers is that home-grown British leeks are available nearly all year round. The British leek season launches
in September, peaking again in the spring – so there’s plenty of time to enjoy this flavoursome legume.

As well as great tasting, leeks are amazingly good for you too. They have many of the same health benefits as their onion relatives, such as helping to maintain a healthy heart and circulation, protecting against cancer and generally boosting the immune system.

So what more reason to you need to try these recipes ... courtesy of www.british-leeks.co.uk

Fan of Duck Breast on an Orange Spiced Leek and Sweet Potato Puree

Classic duck and orange flavour combination served in an original way.

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Oven Temperature: 220°C (200°C Fan)

Ingredients

4 Duck breasts with skin on
450g Leeks, trimmed and sliced into 2.5cm rounds
450g Sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into large dice
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
2.5cm Fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
2 Oranges, grated zest and juice
2 Cloves garlic, crushed
6 Whole cloves
Sprinkling ground sea salt and black pepper

Method

Pierce duck skin and pan fry skin side down for 5- 8 minutes until the fat starts to run out. Oven cook for 15 minutes skin side up.

Prepare the puree. Simmer the sweet potato for 15 minutes until just beginning to soften. Add the leeks and cook for a further 5 – 8 minutes until they are both soft. Drain and mash together to give a rough puree.

Heat the olive oil in a solid based saucepan and fry the ginger, orange zest, garlic and cloves together for 1 – 2 minutes without browning. Add the orange juice and the mashed leek and sweet potato mixture and stir to combine.

Cut duck breasts into thin slices and fan out onto a bed of the leek puree. Drizzle with the duck cooking juices. Garnish with watercress and serve.

Balsamic Salad of Roasted Leek and Red Pepper

A warm salad of chunky rounds of leek and pepper. Oven roasted with thyme and oregano in a white balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing finished off with a liberal sprinkling of pine nuts, leaves of rocket and parmesan shavings. Serve as a light lunch accompanied by some foccacia bread or as a first course.

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Oven Temperature: 220°C (200°C Fan)

Ingredients

450g Leeks, trimmed and cut into 2.5cm rounds
2 Red peppers, cut into large chunks
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp White balsamic vinegar
Generous sprigs fresh oregano and thyme
2 Cloves garlic, crushed
Generous sprinkling ground sea salt and black pepper

For the salad
25g pine nuts
Handful Rocket leaves
25g Parmesan shavings

Method

Place prepared vegetables and seasonings in a roasting pan along with the olive oil and balsamic. Cover with wetted baking paper and scrunch over vegetables to seal.

Oven roast for 30 minutes until tender and just starting to brown. Combine with the remaining ingredients and serve.

Curried Leek and Sweet Potato Soup

Delicious spiced warming thick soup for supping on chilly days. Great served with fingers of grilled nan bread.

Serves 4

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

1kg Leeks, finely chopped in a food processor
1kg Sweet potato, peeled and finely chopped in a food processor
50g Butter
1 tbsp Light and mild olive oil
2 tsp Ground turmeric
1 tsp each of ground clove, coriander, cumin, mild chilli and cardamom
Generous sprinkling of ground sea salt and black pepper
1.5 pints Vegetable stock
300ml Single cream
50g Fresh coriander leaf, finely chopped, leaving a few whole leaves for garnish

Method

Gently sweat the shredded leek in the butter and olive oil for 5 minutes to soften. Stir in the spices and cook for a further 3 minutes. Add the sweet potato, seasoning and stock. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Whiz in batches in a food processor with the single cream and coriander until smooth. Top with the coriander leaf and serve with fingers of warm nan bread.

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