How To Clean And Cut Leeks For Soup

January 10, 2020

Learn How to Cut Leeks and then clean them by following a few simple steps. After slicing and cleaning fresh leeks you can use them in healthy soups and stews, roast them in the oven, or cook them in a pan.

Want to learn how to prepare other vegetables? You might enjoy learning How to Cut Butternut Squash and How to Cut Cauliflower.

Fresh leeks for cutting and cleaning.

Cutting, Cleaning, & Cooking Leeks

When I first tried making the French classic, Potato Leek Soup, I had NO clue how to cut and clean leeks.

Nor did I know which part of the leek to use?!

I totally thought the leafy green part was the star of the show. (Boy was I wrong!)

Not only did I end up with dirt-filled sliced leeks…

But the soup turned out WAY too bitter because I used the wrong part of the vegetable.

Since then I have learned how easy it is to properly slice, clean, and use leeks in your favorite healthy recipes!

So if you're in the same boat, then read on and learn all about this leafy vegetable!

Fresh leeks that have been cut and are being cleaned in a bowl of water.

What are Leeks?

Leeks are a vegetable in the same family as the onion, garlic, shallot, scallion, and chive.

Although they look like a larger form of a green onion, the edible part of the plant is actually the white and light green part – sometimes referred to as the stalk or stem.

The dark green part is also edible, but is quite bitter and is often discarded.

They have a mild, onion-flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. When raw they have a crisp bite and more pungent flavor.

Cooking leeks helps to mellow out the strong flavor and can be accomplished by roasting, sautéing, or even boiling.

A fresh leek on a cutting board next to a knife.

Selecting

There are a few things you will want to look for in order to select the best leeks at the grocery store:

More white stalk and less green. Unlike green onions, the white part is the portion you eat. Look for leeks that have a longer white, edible stem.
Minimal to no yellowing. Yellow spots indicate that the leek is getting old and is not as fresh.
Crisp and firm. Select ones that are about the same firmness as an onion. Avoid ones that are soft or have leaves that are wilting.
Organic. Since leeks grow in the dirt, they have the most direct contact with harmful chemicals. If available, opt for organic over conventional.

Storing

Leeks last the longest when stored in a cool, dry place such as the crisper drawer in your refrigerator.

If they came in bag, remove the bag to prevent excess moisture from building up.

Depending on the level of freshness upon purchase, leeks can potentially last for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator .

Look for signs of wilting or softening to determine if it is still OK to eat.

How to Cut

Cutting leeks is a quick and simple process once you understand the basics.

All you will need is a really sharp knife and one of your favorite cutting boards.

It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to slice for recipes:

Cutting:

Cut off the root end of the leek.
Locate the intersection of the light green stem and dark green leaves. Make a cut and remove the dark green leaves.
For half-moon slices: Slice leek in half lengthwise and slice the leek into thin slices.
For round slices: Starting at one end chop leeks into round slices.

How to Clean

Since leeks grow in the dirt they are often full of hidden dirt.

While you can prepare leeks by rinsing and washing them before cutting, I find that cleaning them in a bowl of water is the easiest and most thorough process.

Cleaning:

Fill a large bowl with water and add sliced leeks.
Toss them around in the water until all of the dirt detaches from the leeks.
Drain the water carefully or use a colander.
Pat dry before using.

Best Recipes

Your leeks are now in perfect slices, cleaned to perfection, and it's time to cook them!

Leeks taste incredible when roasted in the oven, sautéed in a pan, or boiled for a soup.

Here are a few healthy leek recipes for you to try:

Potato Leek Soup
Parmesan & Leek Quiche
Buttery Sauteed Leeks
Roasted Leeks

An image showing how to cut fresh leeks to use the white part for soup and discard the green part.

How to Cut and Clean Leeks

Learn How to Cut Leeks and then clean them by following a few simple steps. After slicing and cleaning fresh leeks you can use them in healthy soup recipes, roast them in the oven, or cook them in a pan. #leeks #cutting #cooking #howto #cutleeks #leek

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 serving

Calories 54 kcal

Leeks

Cutting Leeks:

Cut off the root end of the leek.
Locate the intersection of the light green stem and dark green leaves. Make a cut and discard the green leaves.
For half-moon slices: Slice the leek in half lengthwise and cut into thin slices.
For round slices: Starting at one end cut the leek into round slices.

Cleaning Leeks:

Fill a large bowl with water and add sliced leeks.
Toss leeks around in the water until all of the dirt detaches from the leeks.
Drain the water carefully or use a colander.
Pat leeks dry before using.

Nutritional information is for 1 leek.

Nutrition Facts

How to Cut and Clean Leeks

Amount Per Serving

Calories 54 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g 2%

Saturated Fat 1g 6%

Sodium 18mg 1%

Potassium 160mg 5%

Carbohydrates 13g 4%

Fiber 2g 8%

Sugar 3g 3%

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 1484IU 30%

Vitamin C 11mg 13%

Calcium 53mg 5%

Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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