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Leeks in the Thermomix®

We have matched 213 English Thermomix® recipes with leeks. Here is the season window, buying advice and the best MixMyDay recipe links.

Seasonal calendar by month

When are leeks in season?

Winter leeks September to April, summer leeks April to August, in season almost all year round in Europe.

Outdoor crop: fresh European harvest. Protected crop: greenhouse or covered cultivation. Stored: European harvest kept in storage.

Buying and storing leeks

Fresh leeks have dark green, upright leaves with no yellow patches and a white to pale green shaft without bruising. The whiter the shaft, the milder the flavour. Summer leeks are slimmer and more tender, winter leeks are thicker and stronger in taste. Avoid pre-trimmed leeks in plastic wrap, as the cut ends oxidise quickly.

Leeks keep in the vegetable drawer of the fridge for 5 to 7 days if left unwashed and loosely wrapped in a damp cloth. Do not store them next to apples or pears, because the ethylene these give off turns leeks bitter. To freeze: cut into rings, blanch (3 min in boiling water), refresh in iced water and freeze in portions. Frozen leeks keep for up to 12 months.

Preparing leeks in the Thermomix®

We prepare leeks in the Thermomix® cut into rings or roughly chopped: put 3 to 5 cm pieces into the mixing bowl, 3 sec on speed 4 for coarse pieces or 3 sec on speed 5 for finer ones. The white and pale green part is milder and suits soups and sauces, while the dark green gives a more intense flavour for stocks. Sweat them with butter and a little oil at 120°C on speed 1 until the leeks are soft and slightly glossy.

For creamy Leek Stews or as a base for a Vegetable Lasagne, we sweat leeks together with onions and garlic. In Varoma recipes, leeks stay firm to the bite and easy to digest after 15 to 18 minutes of steaming at Varoma temperature.

The most common mistakes with leeks

Not removing all the grit and soil. Leeks often trap grit between the layers. Halve them lengthways, fan the layers out under running water and rinse thoroughly. Skip this and you will have gritty soup or lasagne despite a perfect cooking time.
Using the whole leek without checking the flavour. The dark green tops are more intense and slightly bitter. For mild soups use only the white to pale green part. The dark green goes into vegetable stocks or gets blanched for heartier dishes.
Chopping too long on a high speed. Processed too long on speed 5 or higher, leeks turn mushy and stringy. Always work in short pulses with a visual check. For chunky stews it is better to roughly cut them by hand and only pulse briefly.

Complete list

All 213 Thermomix® recipes with leeks

Leeks as the main ingredient (24 recipes)

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Leeks in more recipes (189 recipes)

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Goes well with leeks

These seasonal ingredients are in season at the same time, ideal for combining:

Leeks in the monthly calendar:

FAQ

Good to know

Is there a difference between leeks and porree?

They are the same vegetable, just two names in different regions. Botanically it is Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum. In everyday English it is simply the leek.

How do I clean leeks properly?

Cut the leek lengthways down to just above the root end, then fan the layers out under cold running water and rinse thoroughly. This reliably washes out the grit trapped between the layers. Only slice them into rings afterwards.

Can I eat leeks raw?

Yes. Tender summer leeks in particular are lovely raw in salads, sliced into thin rings. The flavour is milder than raw onion. Winter leeks are a little tougher and are better cooked. Raw and in large amounts they can cause bloating.

How long do leeks keep in the fridge?

Unwashed and loosely wrapped in a damp cloth, leeks keep in the vegetable drawer for 5 to 7 days. A cut leek dries out quickly at the exposed end, so it is best to slice them only just before cooking.

How many Thermomix® recipes with leeks are there?

There are currently 213 recipes in our collection. You will find them above, sorted by main ingredient and supporting ingredient.