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Leek Greens: From Unloved to Fab with 11 Recipes

January 26, 2016 By: Anna37 Comments

Leek greens recipes

Do you cook with leeks?  I am going to let you in on a secret.  Come closer.  Come even closer.  Did you know that the dark green parts are yummier than the white and light green parts? Yeah, I am talking about leek greens. See, recipes always call for the white and light green part, then you probably toss the dark part.  Well, Mother Nature didn’t intend you to toss the leek greens but use them.  Here’s her secret that she whispered to me one day.

Yes, I have become the leek greens whisperer.

Leek Greens Magic

Cut off the greens and store them in the freezer.  If you are using a lot of leeks for a recipe like potato leek soup, then go ahead and spread them on a baking sheet or pop them into the dehydrator.

Watch my video below as to how to dehydrate the leeks.

Ingredients:

Clean leek greens.  (They tend to have dirt in and among the leaves.)

Instructions:

  1.  Cut the greens the size of chips.  (About 2 to 3 inches)
    leek greens recipe
  2. Spread them on unbleached parchment paper or silpat mat in the oven or dehyrdrator.
  3. Cook for about 8 hours in the oven at 130 degrees or your lowest setting.  Alternatively, cook them in the dehydrator at 110 degrees.  I haven’t cooked them in the dehyrator yet.
  4. Chips are done when they are crispy like a chip.
  5. Store them in an air tight container.

Eat them like a chip or use them for garnishment when a recipe calls for crispy onions. (Um, if you go down the chip route, you won’t be able to eat just one.)

These dehydrated leeks are much tastier than their white dehydrated counterpart.  Trust me I tried both.

Other Leek Green Recipes:

I love the leek greens dehydrated but you can cook with them as well.

  • Saute with them.  The greens are much milder than onions.  See HERE for a recipe.
  • Wrap fish with leek greens.  According to the Louis Bonduelle Foundation, cooking fish surrounded by leeks is a “great way to cook fish in a natural and edible parcel that enhances its digestibility.”
  • Make a leek tart.
  • Use for stock. (Here is my vegetable stock recipe.  Store the greens with the other leftover peels.)
  • Frizzle the greens so that they are more crisp and brown.
  • Roasted Leek Greens (Paleo and AIP friendly)
  • Leek Green and Saucy Shrimp Stir Fry
  • Crustless Leek Greens and herb quiche.  (This recipe uses the whole leek–greens and all.)
  • Leek Greens and Salty Pork Belly Stir-Fry Recipe.
  • Toasty Oven Roasted Leek Greens

Help Out a Leek Green

Would you mind helping a green girl out? Please pin this image on Pinterest and share this post on Facebook, G+ and Twitter so all the unloved leek greens can be used instead of going to compost heaven?

The leeks thank you from the bottom of their roots.

Leek greens recipes

Join the Conversation:

How do you use your leek greens?

Disclaimer:  There may be affiliate links in this article.  Green Talk makes pennies on each purchased made.  Thanks for the continued support.

Similar Posts:

  • Dehydrating Kale and Greens to Preserve Your Harvest.
  • Growing Leeks From Seed
  • Pumpkin Skins Are Edible and Delish
  • 18 Healthy Kale Recipes to Assure You Will Love Kale
  • 30 Pumpkin Seed Recipes to Spice Up Your Life

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of Anna Lee Herbs and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 1

    Micaela @Mindfulmomma says

    January 29, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    So resourceful Anna! I never would of thought of all these ideas. You may be on to something with leek chips!

    Reply
    • 2

      Anna@Green Talk says

      January 29, 2016 at 11:09 pm

      Micaela, move over kale chips. Anna

      Reply
  2. 3

    Lori Popkewitz Alper says

    January 29, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    Such a timely post Anna. We’re getting all sorts of greens in our CSA box right now. I’m always looking for creative ways to prepare.

    Reply
    • 4

      Anna@Green Talk says

      January 29, 2016 at 11:09 pm

      Lori, they are so simple to make. Your boys will love them. Anna

      Reply
  3. 5

    Betsy (Eco-novice) says

    January 29, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    I am always in awe of your ability to use EVERYTHING and eliminate kitchen waste. What a great alternative to chips!

    Reply
    • 6

      Anna@Green Talk says

      January 29, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      Betsy, when you grow it, it is so hard to compost any part of it. Anna

      Reply
  4. 7

    Tina @AMindfulFairytale says

    February 1, 2016 at 3:29 pm

    Wow! I never would have thought of that! Recipes always say to only use the white and light green parts so I thought maybe we shouldn’t eat the greens. I’m definitely going to try this because we have been on a major leek craze lately. My favourite is leeks in my chicken veggie soup! Thanks so much for this new recipe!

    Reply
    • 8

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 1, 2016 at 10:06 pm

      Tina, let me know how you like the “greens” when you use them? Anna

      Reply
  5. 9

    Jessica says

    February 2, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    I totally love these ideas. I’ll all about not wasting.

    Reply
    • 10

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 2, 2016 at 9:54 pm

      Jessica, that is exactly what I say. If I grew it, I am using it.

      Reply
  6. 11

    linda spiker says

    February 2, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    I have an admission to make…I never cook with leeks! I need to change that!

    Reply
    • 12

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 2, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      Linda, I am so surprised! I bet you could figure a use for those leek greens. Anna

      Reply
  7. 13

    Ritta says

    February 2, 2016 at 3:16 pm

    I’ll try this next time I have leeks! Great idea:)

    Reply
    • 14

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 2, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      Ritta, you will love them.

      Reply
  8. 15

    Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says

    February 2, 2016 at 3:27 pm

    What a cool idea! My husband and I love leeks, but don’t get them often.

    Reply
    • 16

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 2, 2016 at 9:53 pm

      Emily, you can’t eat just one leek chip. Anna

      Reply
  9. 17

    Sylvie says

    February 3, 2016 at 6:00 am

    Such a great idea to make chips with them, very smart!

    Reply
    • 18

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Sylvie, I bet you could come up with a recipe to use them in! Anna

      Reply
  10. 19

    Renee Kohley says

    February 3, 2016 at 9:15 am

    No way! I am totally doing this! Thank you!

    Reply
    • 20

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Renee, your girls will love this! Anna

      Reply
  11. 21

    Megan Stevens says

    February 3, 2016 at 4:28 pm

    I shared this on my FB page and it was popular! Such a helpful post!

    Reply
    • 22

      Anna@Green Talk says

      February 4, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      Megan, the mother of necessity. I can’t bear to get rid of what I grow. Thanks for sharing on Facebook! Anna

      Reply
  12. 23

    maureen says

    May 23, 2016 at 10:20 am

    My mom used to steam them, and serve with a white sauce for dinner. Love them that way!

    Reply
    • 24

      Anna@Green Talk says

      May 24, 2016 at 9:34 pm

      Maureen, sounds delicious! Anna

      Reply
  13. 25

    Zeny says

    March 12, 2017 at 10:28 pm

    I harvested some leeks today and nearly throw out the leaves. Lucky I googled first and found this site. Very helpful, now I can use & preserve my leeks leaves, I used to tell my family the leaves are not edible, I stand corrected.

    Reply
    • 26

      Anna says

      March 14, 2017 at 12:40 am

      Zeny, I am glad you found the site! Anna

      Reply
  14. 27

    Patti says

    September 16, 2017 at 4:47 pm

    Perfect timing for me…I just bought 2 huge bunches of 3 leeks each from a local Amish farmer…I hated to throw away the greens so I looked up what to do with them and I found You !!! And What a great find !
    I’m definitely going to try the chips, maybe with Ranch seasoning and some plain…then make powder with the rest !
    Thank You and have a Great Weekend !

    Reply
    • 28

      Patti says

      September 16, 2017 at 4:50 pm

      PS…I’m going to post this on my 2 Facebook sites
      Joe Gardener and I Can Can and Make It from Scratch

      Reply
  15. 29

    Edward Pinsent says

    October 17, 2017 at 8:05 am

    Thanks for the ideas, and I will definitely use a few of them as I have always “only” just cut them up and added them to stir fries or soups.
    One I have to veto I’m afraid. If you have to use the oven for 8 hours at any temperature, to cook a leek which costs a dollar, you are simply wasting power.

    Thanks for the ideas..
    Eddy

    Reply
    • 30

      Anna says

      October 24, 2017 at 11:16 am

      Edward, you could just let them dry out on their own too. Anna

      Reply
  16. 31

    Sharon says

    February 24, 2018 at 10:12 am

    I was very excited to try these chips. I persevered in drying them for 8 hours even though they smelled horrible- like a gas leak (several candles helped). But both my husband and I thought they had a horrible taste. Too bad.

    Reply
    • 32

      Anna says

      March 9, 2018 at 10:09 pm

      Sharon, they smell like onions. Did you clean them well before you dehydrated them?

      Reply
  17. 33

    Victoria says

    March 20, 2018 at 10:06 am

    I’m using leeks for the second time and almost threw away the dark green! Just saw your idea for the chips, one question, I just washed them, do they have to dry completely before I can bake them? and can you season them while baking? pink salt? or creole seasoning? for the chips?? I hate wasting anything!

    Reply
    • 34

      Anna says

      March 26, 2018 at 11:31 pm

      You can dry them a little damp and yes you can season them. Anna

      Reply
  18. 35

    Jen says

    May 12, 2018 at 5:09 pm

    This is my second year harvesting leeks. Last year I didn’t use the greens, bummer! SO glad I took time to look up how to keep them. Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • 36

      Anna says

      May 23, 2018 at 5:45 pm

      Jen,let me know how this recipe works out for you this year. Anna

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Cook Leeks says:
    August 13, 2018 at 2:32 am

    […] Alternatively, you can cut off all the dark green leaves and use them for other things. This site Green Talk has some really useful tips on what to do with your dark green leaves if you don’t want to […]

    Reply

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