Baby leeks
- Characteristics
- Tender leeks harvested while small
Leek
Leek is a mild culinary allium grown for its long leaf bases, including a white portion produced by excluding light.
- Plant
- Allium porrum
- Flavor
- Mild
- White portion
- Leaf bases grown without light
Types and forms
Mature leeks
- Characteristics
- Plants left to develop larger leaf bases
How the base becomes white
Growers draw soil up around the lower part of the plant to exclude light and extend the white portion. This earthing-up method explains the color difference between the sheltered base and the exposed green leaves.
Try it in the kitchen
Cook sliced mature leek in a potato soup, or grill young leeks and dress them with olive oil. Baby leeks are tender; plants left to grow longer reach a larger size.
Leek is among the vegetables traditionally served with bagna cauda in Piemonte. It offers another way to bring this vegetable to the table alongside the shared sauce.
Choose the size for the dish
Choose young, smaller leeks when you want to present them whole, or larger plants when you plan to slice the base. The stage of growth is a useful distinction alongside any cultivar name.
