The summer vegetables have all but disappeared from the farmers market here in South Jersey, but the fall vegetables are plentiful. Saturday morning, I set off for the farmers market with two items at the top of my list - leeks and mushrooms. On the menu Saturday night was Savory Mushroom and Gruyere Bread Pudding from the Pass the Sushi blog. The bread pudding was really good; I recommend giving it a try.
The recipe called for just the whites and light green portions of leeks, and I found myself with handfuls of leek leaves left over. I set out to find out how to use the leaves and found they can be used in a variety of delicious ways.
1. Deep-Fried Crumbles
Julienne (long thin strips) and deep-fry them in a tempura like batter. Crumble them and use them as a topping on soups and salads, like bacon bits.
2. Freeze for Soup
Freeze them to add when you’re making soup stock.
3. Bouquet Packet
Enclose herbs in a green leek blade and tie into a packet for a bouquet garni.
4. Stir-Fry
Add them to a stir-fry. The tough green leaves can withstand the high heat of this method, but must be stirred constantly and cooked briefly.
5. Make a Rack
Use them as a “rack” under roasted meat or chicken. It adds a little flavor to the drippings and raises the meat slightly from the pan. Discard them before using the drippings for gravy.
6. Steam Them
Add them to the bottom of a bamboo steamer to impart flavor to lean fish and chicken.
7. Make a Tart
Use to make a leek tart.
