Friedleeksgarnish Recipes

TENDER BRAISED LEEKS

Steps:

• Trim the darkest green part off the leeks and strip away the first two layers. Cut in half lengthways, but keep attached at the root. Wash the leeks under cold running water and set aside. Tip all the other ingredients, except the olives and parsley, into a wide shallow pan with 200ml water, some cracked pepper and a sprinkling of salt.
• Slip the leeks into the pan, cover and place over a low heat. Gently simmer for 20 mins, turning them occasionally until very tender - a knife blade should slip in easily. Leave to cool until just warm, then stir through the parsley and olives, if you like. Serve the leeks as they are with crusty bread or with roast chicken or fish.

FRIZZLED LEEKS

Steps:

• Cut leeks lengthwise into thin strips. Wash leeks and drain. Dry well between layers of paper towels.
• In a saucepan at least 3 ½ inches deep, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees. Working in very small batches fry leeks (oil will bubble up quite high) until golden, about 10-15 seconds, transferring with a slotted spoon to paper towels to dry. Season leeks with salt.
• Leeks may be fried a day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Serve on top of soup.

LEEKS AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom and side of shallow 2-quart casserole. Cut leeks into 1/2-inch pieces. In 3-quart saucepan, heat 2 inches water to boiling. Add leeks. Cover and cook over medium heat about 5 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Cook flour, salt and pepper over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and bubbly; remove from heat. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in cheese until melted. Stir in leeks. Pour into casserole.
• In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and 2 teaspoons butter until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over casserole.
• Bake uncovered about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

GERMAN HAMBURGERS (FRIKADELLEN)

Steps:

• Soak Kaiser roll in a bowl of water for 10 minutes. Drain, squeezing out excess water, and crumble into a large bowl.
• Mix crumbled roll with ground beef, ground pork, onion, parsley, egg, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well blended. Shape meat into large flattened meatballs.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; fry meatballs until browned and no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes per side.

BRAISED LEEKS WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cut the ends and the dark green leaves of the leeks, and cut in half lengthwise. Place in a bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, then run under the faucet to remove any sand that may be lingering in between the layers. Peel off thick outer layers and discard.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet that will accommodate all of the leeks in one layer. Place the leeks in the pan, cut side down, and cook, shaking the pan and moving them around with tongs, until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the leeks over and cook on the other side until they are lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn the leeks back over so that the cut side is down. Peel off the outer layers if they are papery, as they will not soften when the leeks are braised. Pour in the wine and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan, then add enough water or stock to come just to the top of the leeks. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes, until the leeks are thoroughly tender when pierced with a knife. Most of the liquid should have evaporated by this time. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
• Transfer the leeks to an oiled ovenproof pan if your skillet cannot go under the broiler. Using tongs, turn the leeks so that the flat side is up. If there is still a lot of liquid in the pan, pour it off. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the leeks. Place under the hot broiler until the cheese has melted and is beginning to color. Remove from the heat and serve.

FRIED LEEKS (GARNISH)

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pot heat oil to 350 degrees F. Sift cornstarch and flour together.
• Dust leeks in flour/cornstarch and fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Drain on a paper towel, season with sea salt.

FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• In a medium sauce pot heat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Clean and julienne leeks. Sift cornstarch and flour together. Dust leeks in flour/cornstarch and fry until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Drain on a paper towel, season with salt. See Cook's Note.

BUTTERY LEEKS WITH PARMESAN AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Trim dark-green tops and root ends from leeks and discard; halve lengthwise. Remove thick, tough outer layers (2 to 4 total, depending on size), discarding or reserving for another use. Thoroughly wash and drain leeks, keeping them intact. Arrange in a snug single layer, cut sides up, in a broiler-safe baking dish or skillet.
• In a small saucepan, boil wine 30 seconds. Add broth and return to a boil; season generously with salt and pepper. Pour mixture over leeks, then sprinkle with butter and thyme. Cover dish with parchment-lined foil.
• Roast 45 minutes. Uncover and continue roasting until leeks are very soft and broth mixture is reduced by half, 20 to 22 minutes.
• Switch oven to broil. Sprinkle leeks with cheese. Broil 6 to 8 inches from heating element until bubbly and browning in places, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve warm, with some of braising liquid.

CRISPY FRIED LEEKS

Steps:

• Pour peanut oil into heavy small saucepan to depth of 1 inch; heat to 350°F. Fry leeks in small batches until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer fried leeks to paper towels to drain.

FRIED LEEKS WITH TARRAGON

Steps:

• Trim leeks, slice in 1/2 lengthwise and rinse to remove sand and dirt. Cut them about 4-in long and place in a steamer basket and steam about 10 minutes, until tender, and set aside on paper towels for 20 minutes.
• Beat the egg, pepper, and half of the tarragon together in a bowl.
• Heat just enough oil to cover bottom of pan until a drop of water will sizzle in the pan.
• Coat the leeks in the eggs, then flour, and fry until browned, turning often.
• Sprinkle with vinegar and rest of tarragon and serve.