Leeks With Brown Butter Recipes

BUTTERED LEEKS

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Trim off and discard the root ends of the leeks. Trim off and discard any dried out or browned ends of the leek greens. Cut the leeks in half lengthwise, slice them crosswise into bite-sized pieces. You can use the dark green parts of the leek; chop it all up, just getting rid of any browned or dried ends.
• Put the leeks in a large bowl and cover with cool water. Swish the leeks around to loosen any dirt or grit. If you noticed any large clumps of grit when you were chopping the leeks, now is the time to make sure that they get rinsed off. Let the leeks sit a few minutes for the dirt and grit to settle to the bottom of the bowl.
• In a large frying pan or sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter.
• Lift the leeks out of the water, shaking any excess, and add them to the pan. Do not drain the leeks into a colander, since that will dump the dirt back onto the leeks. Sprinkle the leeks with the salt and stir to combine.
• Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring every 5 minutes or so until the leeks are very tender, 30 to 40 minutes total.
• Take the pan off the heat and add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir until the butter is melted into the leeks. Serve hot or warm.

LEEKS WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Clean the leeks by washing them in water and cutting away the tops of the green leaves and the roots.
• Plunge them into a pan of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes.
• Before removing, test to make sure they are cooked by piercing them with a knife.
• Drain and place in a serving dish.
• Melt the butter in a separate pan and cook until it sizzles and turns a gold brown.
• Add the breadcrumbs, lemon juice and salt and pour over the leeks.
• Serve immediately.

BROILED LEEKS WITH BUTTERED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Trim leeks and discard most of dark-green parts. Cut leeks in half lengthwise and wash well, keeping halves intact. Steam leeks 15 minutes, or until tender. Arrange leeks, cut sides up, on a buttered baking sheet.
• Preheat broiler.
• In a small saucepan melt butter and stir in bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Spoon bread crumb mixture onto leeks, patting down mixture with back of spoon to help adhere. Broil leeks 2 to 3 inches from heat until bread crumbs are golden brown, about 3 minutes.

LEEKS WITH ANCHOVY BUTTER

Steps:

• Using cooking twine, tie the leeks into two bunches. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the leeks and cook until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Drop into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain, then press out excess water on a towel. Set cut-side up in a large baking dish.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place the butter, anchovies, parsley, basil, shallot and lemon juice in a large bowl. Mash with a fork or potato masher until well blended and the anchovies have dissolved into a paste. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spread the butter mixture over the cut sides of the leeks. Bake for 5 minutes or until warmed through. Squeeze over more lemon juice, if you like.

BROWNED LEEKS WITH HAZELNUT BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While it heats, cut the leeks crosswise into 1/2 inch slices; set aside.
• Toast the hazelnuts: spread the nuts on a jelly roll pan and place them in the preheated oven for five to ten minutes; watch carefully to be sure they don't burn. when the nuts smell toasty and a cooled nut is crisp and crunchy, the nuts are properly toasted. Remove the papery skins by rubbing a few nuts at a time between your palms or in a rough dish towel. Chop the nuts into fine bits.
• In a large skillet, melt two T of the butter; add the nuts and saute for about 5 minutes, until the butter browns. do not overcook. With a slotted spoon, transfer the nuts to a samll bowl and set aside.
• Melt the remaining 2 T of butter in the skillet, add the leeks and salt, and saute for 10 minutes, until the leeks are limp and beginning to brown. (You may stop at this point and do the final step just before serving.).
• Stir in the chopped nuts and vermouth and cook over medium heat until most of the liquid is evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Add more salt if needed and serv right away.

BUTTERED LEEKS

Steps:

• The day before you want to serve this dish, cut the leeks from top to root and wash thoroughly under cold running water. Thinly slice them on the diagonal and put into plastic bags and chill until ready to cook.
• To serve, put a large pan over a medium heat, add the butter and let it melt over the base of the pan. Add the leeks and plenty of seasoning and stir to coat in the butter. Turn the heat down to low, cover the pan and cook the leeks gently for about 15 minutes, stirring half way through until they are tender. Serve with extra butter and a sprinkling of thyme leaves.

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.

SIMPLE BRAISED LEEKS

Steps:

• Remove outer leaves; cut dark-green ends from leeks. Trim roots, keeping leaves attached. Halve lengthwise; rinse to remove grit.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks to pan and arrange cut side down in a single layer. Cook until softened and light golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn leeks and cook on the other side until softened, 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn the leeks again so they are cut side down and peel off any papery outer layers. Add stock and wine, stirring to deglaze pan. Cook for 1 minute. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover with a parchment paper round. Cook until the leeks are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes.
• Remove parchment, raise heat, and cook until liquid is reduced, about 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with coarse salt and parsley; serve.