To be honest, I don’t know that I’ve ever cooked with leeks myself – I find them somewhat bizarre and intimidating, so this lesson in all-things leeks is actually quite beneficial for me! Some of my favorite bloggers utilize leeks in their everyday cooking – one being Sara from Sprouted Kitchen whose two gorgeous recipes I’ve featured below. Feeling inspired and curious all at the same time, I’m ready to dive in and find out what this peculiar little vegetable is all about.
Leeks are a member of the onion family, and are similar in texture and appearance to garlic and chive. The leek itself exudes a sweet flavor that isn’t overpowering or nearly as strong as an onion. However, it inserts an amazing bright, earthy flavor when seasoned appropriately and paired well with other ingredients in dishes.
Health benefits: Like most vegetables, leeks are extremely low in calories and have a high fiber content. They’re also high in vitamin A, which promotes healthy function of the mucosal lining of the throat, nose, and urinary and digestive tracts, according to livestrong.com.
Leeks are also an excellent source of folic acid, potassium, calcium, and vitamin C and provide laxative, antiseptic, diuretic and anti-arthritic benefits. And among other perks, leeks are also a great source of flavonoid antioxidants, which help fight various types of cancer in the body. (more…)
