What Are Leeks?

August 27, 2008

I always see leeks on cooking shows, but they can be a bit intimidating in the store if you don’t know what they are or what to look for (as they were for me. Here I’ll go over what leeks are and how to pick them.

What Are Leeks?

Leeks look more or less like a giant scallion, and in some ways that’s exactly what they are. They are part of the genus Allium, which you may remember from such foods as onions, garlic, and scallions. The white and light green portions are normally the parts that people eat, and they have a mild onion flavor that is slightly sweet - much less harsh than a normal onion.  The dark green leaves can be used in stocks or soups for flavor.

Leeks can be grown in fairly cold temperatures. It is interesting that in order to get a longer white base (the delicious part), farmers will stack dirt around the plant as it grows, keeping more of it from sunlight. As a plant with many layers, this means that dirt gets deep inside the plant, so it needs to be washed well.

What Should I Look For?

When buying leeks, look for ones with large, white bases. They should not be slimy, dried out, or browning. Just store them in loosely wrapped plastic in the refrigerator and they should last for a couple weeks.

Tomorrow I’ll show you how to prepare leeks, and Friday I’ll reveal what I made with them.

Posted in Food Profiles |