Grilled Leeks Recipes

GRILLED LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring white wine, clam juice, garlic, onion and butter to a simmer. Add leeks and braise for 20 minutes, let cool in liquid. Cut lengthwise. Whisk together the olive oil and garlic in a large bowl, and the leeks and let marinate 1 hour. Preheat grill. Grill until golden brown.

GRILLED BRAISED LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat grill to high. Cut each leek in half lengthwise and rinse thoroughly to remove all dirt and sand. Pat dry. Brush the cut side of each leek half with the bacon drippings and sprinkle with kosher salt. Grill over direct, high heat, cut side down, with lid closed, approximately 6 to 7 minutes or until grill marks appear. Remove the leeks to a sheet of aluminum foil and lay cut side up. Brush the leeks with balsamic vinegar. Reassemble the leek halves together, wrap tightly in foil, and set back on the grill away from direct heat for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove the leeks from the foil and serve immediately, as is or with crumbled bacon and goat cheese.

GRILLED LEEKS WITH TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a bowl or jar, combine the vinegar, mustard and some salt and pepper. Whisk to combine, and then slowly pour in the olive oil while whisking. Set aside.
• Trim the roots off the leeks, leaving some of the root end intact so the leeks hold together. Cut the leeks in half lengthwise and rinse very well--they are usually pretty sandy and dirty.
• Add about 1 inch of water to a large pot over medium-high heat. Insert a steamer basket and set the leeks into the steamer. Cover and cook until softened and tender when the white end is pierced with a paring knife, about 5 minutes. Remove the leeks from the steamer, pat dry and transfer to a shallow dish. Brush with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Heat a grill pan or grill to medium-high heat. Add the leeks, cut-side down, and cook until grill marks form, about 3 minutes. Flip and repeat. Remove to a serving platter, drizzle over some of the vinaigrette and sprinkle with the hazelnuts.

GRILLED LEEKS WITH ROMESCO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the romesco sauce. Preheat the broiler, and cover a baking sheet with foil. Place the tomatoes on the baking sheet, and place under the broiler at the highest setting. Broil for two to four minutes until charred on one side. Turn over, and broil on the other side for two to four minutes until charred. Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. Peel and core.
• Turn on a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and drop in the garlic cloves. When the garlic is chopped and adheres to the sides of the bowl, stop the machine and scrape down the sides. Add the toasted almonds (or almonds and hazelnuts), bread and chili powder or flakes to the bowl. Process into a paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the pepper, tomatoes, parsley, paprika, salt and pepper. Process until smooth. With the machine running, add the vinegar and olive oil in a slow stream. Process until well mixed, then scrape into a bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding salt as desired. If possible, allow the sauce to stand for an hour at room temperature before using.
• Cut away the dark green ends of the leeks. Trim the root end. Cut fat leeks lengthwise into quarters, and rinse thoroughly under cold water to wash away any sand. If your leeks are 1/2 inch in diameter they needn't be cut; if they are between 1/2 inch and an inch, you can just cut them in half.
• Bring an inch of water to a boil in the bottom of a steamer. Place the leeks in the steamer, and steam 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and toss with the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
• Prepare a medium-hot grill. Grill the steamed leeks for five minutes, turning often, just until grill marks appear. Remove from the heat, and serve with romesco sauce.

GRILLED LEEKS WITH VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim the tough dark-green ends from leeks; discard, or set aside for another use. Trim root hairs; discard. Then, starting about 1/2 inch from the root end (which stays intact), slice each leek lengthwise from base to tip with a sharp knife. Rinse leeks thoroughly to remove sand.
• Fill a bowl with ice water; set aside. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt well, and add leeks. Blanch until leeks are very tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer leeks to the ice bath; submerge them immediately. Once the leeks are cold, drain them, pat them dry, and set them aside.
• In a small bowl, combine mustard and vinegar. Slowly drizzle oil into bowl, whisking to form a thick vinaigrette. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Lightly brush leeks with some vinaigrette, and arrange them on a medium-hot grill or grill pan. Grill leeks until they are hot and have grill marks, about 2 minutes per side. Remove leeks from grill, and toss with remaining vinaigrette. Serve.

GRILLED MUSHROOMS AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Quarter 2 trimmed leeks lengthwise; cut into 2-inch pieces.
• In bowl, toss 1 1/2 pounds button mushrooms with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place in hot wok; cook until tender, 10 minutes.
• In bowl, toss leeks with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing, until lightly charred, 15 to 25 minutes. Dust with 1 tablespoon Parmesan.