Creamy Leek Pasta Recipes

VEGAN CREAMY LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high.
• Meanwhile, prepare your leeks: Trim 1/2 inch off both ends, then cut each leek crosswise, separating the bottom third of the white portion from the top two-thirds of light and dark leek greens. Halve the greens lengthwise, wash them, then set them aside.
• Halve your leek whites lengthwise, cut them crosswise into 2-inch segments, then slice those segments thinly lengthwise to create matchsticks. (If you notice any grit in the sliced leek whites, wash them thoroughly, transfer them to a dish towel, squeezing to remove excess moisture, then spread them out to dry.)
• In a small, deep saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-high and line a baking sheet with paper towels. Working in three to four batches for even cooking, add about 1/4 of the white leek strips and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 4 minutes. The key here is to keep residual cooking in mind: Since your delicate leeks will continue cooking after being removed from the hot oil, you want to pull them from the hot oil when about a third of each batch is fully golden, a third is lightly golden and another third is still green. (They won't cook perfectly evenly; it's not you, it's them and the nature of cooking.) Remove them swiftly, using a slotted spoon and tilting the saucepan to transfer the leeks to the paper towel-lined plate. Season to taste with salt. Repeat with the remaining batches. Set the oil aside to cool.
• Add the pasta and leek greens to the boiling water, reduce the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just shy of al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water. Using tongs, transfer the leek greens to a blender, then pour the pasta into a colander set in the sink.
• Add the reserved leek oil to the leek greens, along with 2/3 cup pasta water and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper, and blend until creamy. Add the sauce to the pot and stir in the pasta. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and add more pasta water, if desired, to thin the sauce. Divide among plates and sprinkle with frizzled leeks. Grate fresh lemon zest on top, if desired, then squeeze with lemon. Serve immediately.

CREAMY LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Put the pasta in a pan of boiling water and cook for 12 minutes.
• Put some oil it a pan and add the leeks. Gently cook on a very low heat for 5-7 minutes, until softened.
• Add the garlic, mustard, creme friache and cheese to the pan and stir well.
• Cook on a very low heat for a further minute.
• Drain the pasta and stir in to the sauce.

VEGAN CREAMY GARLIC & LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil and garlic on low heat, then add leeks and stir.
• Add milk and vegetable stock little by little and put on medium heat whilst stirring.
• Add sunflower spread and nutritional yeast, still stirring.
• Sift in flour little by little, continuing to stir (or whisk if flour forms lumps) until sauce reaches a thicker consistency.
• Serve ontop of pasta.

CREAMY SALMON AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and return to the pot.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir leek in butter until slightly softened, 6 to 7 minutes; season with salt. Pour white wine and lemon juice over the leeks, and bring to a boil while scraping any browned bits of food from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer until most of the liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes.
• Stir creme fraiche, mustard, and 1 pinch cayenne pepper into the leek mixture. Reduce heat to low and let cook until warmed, about 5 minutes. Add salmon to sauce; cook and stir until salmon starts to flake and is no longer pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cilantro. Pour sauce over spaghetti; toss to coat. Garnish with a pinch of cayenne pepper.

CREAMY ONE-POT MUSHROOM AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a wide, deep 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. When hot, add the olive oil and leeks, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and lightly golden, 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and mushrooms. Cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes, then stir and cook, undisturbed, until the mushrooms start to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. (This allows the water from the mushrooms to evaporate, encouraging caramelization.) Add the juice of one lemon half to deglaze the pan and stir to combine.
• Add the pasta and stock; stir well. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat. Begin tasting pasta 10 minutes after you add it. (All pasta shapes and brands will have different cooking times. You want the pasta to be just tender.)
• Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and add the butter and parsley. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir until butter is melted and dispersed. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, top with ricotta, red-pepper flakes (to taste) and more chopped parsley.

CREAMY LEEK & SPINACH PASTA

Steps:

• 1. In a large pot boil water for pasta.
• 2. Heat olive oil in large pan and add leeks and garlic when hot.
• 3. Season leeks with salt and pepper and sauté until the mixture is soft.
• 4. When water comes to a rolling boil add past and cook until tender then drain.
• 5. Add cooked pasta to pan and toss with mascarpone and spinach.
• 6. Finish with freshly grated parmesan and red and black pepper.

CHICKEN AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Use a vegetable peeler to peel zucchini and carrot into fine slices. Cut slices lengthwise into thin ribbons, similar to the tagliatelle; set aside.
• Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken and fry until seared, 3 to 4 minutes. Add leeks and continue to fry until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add 1 cup chicken broth, cream, white wine, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce thickens, 6 to 8 minutes. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, bring remaining chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add vegetable ribbons and tagliatelle. Cook at a boil until tagliatelle is tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Drain tagliatelle and serve, adding warm chicken-leek mixture on top.

CREAMY HAM AND LEAK PASTA

Steps:

• Cut the white and pale green of the leeks into thin slices and wash well. Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan, add the leeks and stir until they are coated with butter.
• Add the stock and simmer very gently, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the leeks are tender.
• Add the ham and season to taste. The leeks will absorb most of the liquid. Meanwhile cook the pasta 'al dente', drain well and pour into a warmed serving bowl.
• Quickly reheat the leeks with the cream. Pour over the pasta, add half the cheese and toss together. Serve at once, with the rest of the cheese passed round separately