Leeks — season, tips, and recipes in New Zealand
Leeks is a vegetables available in New Zealand during April, May, June, July, August, September, peaking in June, July, August. This page is a practical guide for home cooks: when to buy leeks, how to pick a good one, how to store it, what it goes well with, three original recipes, and detailed nutrition information.
The sweeter milder cousin of onions. Winter staple in NZ. The basis of one of the best simple soups: leek and potato.
How to pick a good one
Firm white bases, fresh green tops. Smaller = more tender. Dark green tops are great in stock.
How to store it
Fridge loosely wrapped, up to two weeks.
Goes well with
potato: Leek and potato soup exists because the two ingredients are complementary in every way: leek's sweet, mild onion flavour and potato's starchy body create something complete from two very simple things.
cream: Leek softened slowly in butter and cream is the basis of vichyssoise and many gratins. The fat moderates leek's sharp onion edge and produces a sweetness that raw leek lacks.
thyme: Thyme's earthy depth amplifies leek's savoury sweetness. A standard combination in tarts, gratins, and braises.
mustard: Mustard's sharpness contrasts with leek's sweetness and adds complexity to what would otherwise be a mild, one-note combination.
Recipes
Leek & Potato Soup
The classic. 30 minutes.
Ingredients: 3 leeks, 3 potatoes, 1 onion, 1L stock, knob butter, salt, pepper, cream (optional)
Method: Sweat sliced leeks and onion in butter 10 min. Add diced potatoes and stock. Simmer 20 min. Blend. Season. Swirl of cream.
Leek & Gruyère Tart
Elegant. Great cold too.
Ingredients: 1 sheet puff pastry, 3 leeks, 100g gruyère, 2 eggs, 150ml cream, knob butter, salt, nutmeg
Method: Line tart tin with pastry. Blind bake 15 min. Sweat sliced leeks in butter until very soft. Spread in tart. Mix eggs, cream, nutmeg. Pour over. Top with grated gruyère. Bake 180C for 25 min.
Buttered Leeks
Simplest side. Underrated.
Ingredients: 3 leeks, 2 tbsp butter, squeeze lemon, salt, pepper
Method: Slice leeks. Sweat in butter over low heat for 15 min until completely soft and sweet. Squeeze lemon. Season. That's it.
Nutrition
One leek provides 52% of your daily vitamin K, 18% of your vitamin A, and 12% of your vitamin C. Contains kaempferol, a flavonoid studied for heart-protective effects. The green tops have more nutrients than the white base (use both). About 54 calories per leek.