Suppression
Leeks
Category: Food
Type
Voluntary
Introduction and description
Allium porrum - The leek is a vegetable that belongs, along with onion and garlic, to the genus Allium, currently placed in family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae.
Its specific scientific name has changed over the years, but it is now within the species Allium ampeloprasum. Two related vegetables, elephant garlic and Kurrat, are also cultivars of A. ampeloprasum. We have grouped them together for the purpsesof the observations.
The edible part of the leek plant is a bundle of leaf sheaths that is sometimes erroneously called a stem or stalk. Rather than forming a tight bulb like the onion, the leek produces a long cylinder of bundled leaf sheaths that are generally blanched by pushing soil around them (trenching).
They are often sold as small seedlings in flats that are started off early in greenhouses, to be planted out as weather permits. Once established in the garden, leeks are hardy; many varieties can be left in the ground during the winter to be harvested as needed.
Giant leeks are grown for fun or competition in many parts of the North of England as part of the allotment heritage of the UK
Cultivation
There are "summer leeks", intended for harvest in the season when planted, and overwintering leeks, meant to be harvested in the spring of the year following planting. Summer leek types are generally smaller than overwintering types; overwintering types are generally more strongly flavoured. A leek can be as strongly flavoured as an onion if it is grown in rich soil.
Leeks are easy to grow from seed. Once the seedling has reached about 2-3 inches high it is transplanted into a hole you make with a ‘dibber’ – the handle of a broken spade will do as long as it has been smoothed off so you can make a hole. Holding the little leek at the top, being careful not to bruise it, you place it with about an inch above ground and then water it in. This way you do not disturb the roots too much and it goes in with a nice damp environment to get it going again.
You DO NOT chop off the top of the leek when planting as some websites seem to suggest. This weakens the plant and attracts disease and pests. Leave the long apparently straggly leaves as they are ,they will be fine.
The soil in which it is grown has to be loose and well drained. Leeks will grow in clay soils, but you need to mix the clay with compost. Plant them a good 6 inches apart, more if you have the room. The key to a good healthy leek is the same as a good onion - food. The richer the compost the better, chicken manure, matured cow manure, all work well.
Leeks are on the whole relatively pest free, although according to Wikipedia, they can get leek rust (puccinia allii). As this is a fungal disease, I assume it only attacks if the ground is too claggy and there is not enough air flowing through them.
It is possible to build up the soil [the trenching mentioned above] so that you get more of the white and less of the green part of the leaf, a little like you do celery. Another way is to put toilet roll centres [or similar cardboard tubes] around them before they are grown. These are normally biodegradable and help to keep the soil out of the centre of the leek.
Method
Leeks can be cut lengthwise or across the stem in rounds. If cut lengthwise and steamed lightly they can be added to salads using other julienne vegetables.
Do not eat leeks that have a central core to them. It means they have started to go to seed. They will do you no harm, but they will be bitter and tough.
The green tops are much stronger in flavour and sometimes a bit tough, but in soups and stews they are very tasty. They can be made more tender by pureeing them with a blender. I always add any leek tops to bones when making stock as they really add zip to any broth. Once the broth has cooked for some hours [slow cooker of bottom oven of an Aga], then the stock is obtained by straining.
A staple supper of my school days was steamed leeks in a cheese sauce topped with fried crispy bacon chopped or not depending on your taste.
They can be used in soups – chicken and leek soup [cock-a-leekie soup], leek and potato soup, and vichyssoise, as well as plain leek soup.
If a single cut is made to the core of the leek and they are then steamed whole, the leaves can be flattened out, a stuffing [meat, cinnamon, pine nuts, currants, rice or herbs] placed on them and then rolled. My Mum used to then cover them with a tomato sauce and bake them in the oven. Here are some more suggestions:
Bacon, Leek, and Tomato Quiche
Lee Bennett’s Creamed leeks with chestnut and thyme crumble
This rich and warming savoury crumble is a great vegetarian main, or supper dish. Serves 4
|
100g butter, at room temperature For the leeks 200ml double cream
|
1 To make the crumble topping, work the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs, then add the ground almonds and suet. 3 Remove the dark green outer leaves from the leeks and then roughly chop the rest. Add the butter to a large saucepan and gently cook the leeks with a pinch of salt and pepper until softened. 4 Add the cream and reduce until thick, which will finish cooking the leeks. 5 Place into a ceramic baking dish and allow to cool. When ready, top with the crumble and bake at 160C/325F/gas mark 3 for around 15-20 minutes until crunchy and coloured. |
Leek and bacon pasta with cheese sauce
Ellen Hooberman’s Butter bean, leek and cauliflower salad
|
I can or jar of butter beans For the dressing
|
1 Fry garlic until soft, add to butter beans. Cook cauliflower until al dente add to beans 2 Whisk all the dressing ingredients together well, adding salt and pepper to taste. 3 Dress the cauliflower and butter beans liberally. Toss and then leave to sit overnight. 4 When it comes time to serve, steam leeks until soft but not soggy. Add warm leeks to salad. It may need some more dressing. 5. Add the chopped parsley and a substantial handful of capers. Toss vigorously, being careful not to crush the butter beans, then serve.
|
Leek and Zucchini Fritters with a poached egg and baby grilled tomatoes
Eric Snaith’s Leek and potato bake
|
50g butter 1 tbsp finely chopped chives
|
On a medium heat, melt the butter and oil gently. Cook the shallots and garlic until soft. Add the leeks, then after 2-3 minutes add the potato followed by enough stock to just cover it. Cook slowly, adding more stock as the potatoes soak it up. When the potatoes are cooked, but still firm, add the cream and creme fraiche. As the potatoes start to break down, season, then add the parmesan and lemon juice. To serve, crumble the goat's cheese over the top, followed by the chives.
|
Sarah Britton’s Lemony leeks with chickpeas and feta
|
3 large leeks For the dressing
|
1 Slice off the root end of the each leek, then cut the stalk into 5cm chunks on the diagonal. Use both the white and pale green part. 2 In a large frying pan, heat the stock until simmering, add the leeks, then cover and simmer for 4-5 minutes. 3 Meanwhile, make the dressing. Combine all the ingredients except for the zest and dill. 4 When leeks are just tender, remove from the pan and arrange on a serving platter, leaving the remaining broth. Add the chickpeas to the pan and heat for about 1 minute, tossing to warm through. Add half the dill and toss. 5 Remove the pan from heat and serve the chickpeas on top of the leeks. Add the dressing, sprinkle with dill, lemon zest, and plenty of black pepper. Serve immediately.
|
Related observations
Healing observations
- Dr Duke's list of Chemicals and their Biological Activities in: Allium ampeloprasum L. (Liliaceae) -- Elephant Garlic, Kurrat [and leek] 021103
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing ARGININE 017958
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing HISTIDINE 019061
- Dr Duke's list of Plants containing PROLINE 017956
- Dr Duke's list of plants with AntiADHD activity 018403
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antianorexic activity 018410
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antibiotic activity 018353
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antibph activity 018354
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (colon) activity 018455
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (forestomach) activity 018458
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (liver) activity 018461
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (skin) activity 018466
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticancer (stomach) activity 018467
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Anticoeliac activity 018431
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidote (Aluminum) Activity 018326
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antidysenteric activity 018475
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiheartburn Activity 019973
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antikeratitic Activity 019936
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antimeasles activity 019577
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antipapillomic Activity from multiple chemicals 018899
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antischizophrenic Activity 018433
- Dr Duke's list of Plants with Antiuremic activity 018429
- The Manuals of Taoist Sexual Practise – Ten Questions 09 017846