If you love soup, you're going to love these recipes. Not sure about leeks? We get it; outside that classic soup recipe, long green and white leeks can be kind of a mystery. What if we told you leeks can add their mildly sweet, oniony flavor to so much more? Check out these 22 leek recipes for proof—we know you'll "leek" them a lot. 😉
Leeks are part of the allium vegetable family and are similar to other types of onions, shallots, and garlic. They’ve got a milder, sweeter taste than an onion, making them great for adding flavor without being overpowering. What’s not so sweet? Cleaning them. Without the papery outer skin of their vegetable cousins, leeks are much more susceptible to dirt getting trapped within their layers. Don’t be intimidated, though, we promise they’re worth the effort! Here’s our best method for making sure none of that dirt ends up in your final dish: Place your sliced leeks in a large bowl of water (a “water bath”) and swish them around to separate the layers. Let them sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then pull the leeks out using a slotted spoon or sieve, taking care to not pull any of the dirt that has sunk to the bottom with them.
They’re also relatively large, meaning they’re a bit more of a commitment than your average allium. Luckily, you can use them anywhere you’d use an onion or shallot. They add a lovely flavor to a wide range of soups, of course, like our cauliflower leek soup or green chili clam chowder, but also make a nice addition to weeknight pasta dinners and healthy dinner salads. Try them roasted in our “anything goes” grain salad, or our . They’re even great on pizza! Once you know how to prepare them, try swapping them into any of your favorite onion applications—you never know, they might become your new favorite secret ingredient.
For more spring vegetable inspiration, check out our favorite asparagus recipes, our top spring pastas, our raddest radish recipes, and our best spring salads too.
1
Leek And Potato Soup
While many recipes using leeks call for discarding the tougher, more fibrous green tops, we reserve them, slice 'em real thin, and stir-fry them until crispy and golden. Sprinkled with a little salt, fried leek greens transform an otherwise fine bowl of soup into an outstanding one.
Get the Leek And Potato Soup recipe.
2
Anything Goes Grain Salad
We recommend sticking with the bright lemony salad dressing and finishing this with some goat cheese to add creamy tanginess, but otherwise, truly anything goes. Swap in different beans, any of your favorite roasted seasonal veggies, or even different greens.
Get the Anything Goes Grain Salad recipe.
3
Pasta Primavera
This delicate, luscious spring pasta is the epitome of the season, showcasing some of the deliciously sweet and delicate produce available March through June. Thought to have been dreamed up in America sometime in the '70s, we gave this retro recipe some modern tweaks, and, TBH, we can't get enough of it.
Get the Pasta Primavera recipe.
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4
Green Chili Clam Chowder
This chowder takes after red-hued Manhattan clam chowder, but departs from that recipe in a few key ways. This soup gets its kick (and color) from hatch chiles and salsa verde. Instead of the customary potatoes, we’ve subbed in tender white beans to add a bit of richness. Yum!
Get the Green Chili Clam Chowder recipe.
5
Spinach & Cheese Quiche
This rich, custardy spinach quiche is just the thing to break out for special-occasion breakfasts and brunches. A simple arugula salad and some crispy pan-fried potatoes will nicely round out the meal, along with a mimosa if you’ve got nowhere to be. 😉
Get the .
6
Vegetarian Kale Soup
Don't skip the step of mashing the cannellini beans— it makes this wintery soup extra thick and creamy.
Get the Vegetarian Kale Soup recipe.
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7
Skillet Mac 'n' Cheese With Chicken & Broccoli
Cooking the broccoli in the same water as the pasta is GENIUS. Plus, broccoli means this is totally healthy and it's cool to have seconds (read: thirds), right?
Get the .
8
Vegetarian Fajitas
You have the classic steak fajitas and chicken fajitas, but what happens to a fajita dish when the meat leaves the equation? Our former Senior Food Producer June Xie made these vegetarian fajitas during a special edition episode of Budget Eats where she bought nothing and cooked through what she had in her kitchen for an entire week. The answer: surprisingly delicious things.
Get the Vegetarian Fajitas recipe.
9
Yukgaejang: Spicy Korean Beef Soup
Yukgaejang is a spicy Korean beef soup loaded with warm earthy vegetables like mushrooms, leeks, and gosari. Gosari are immature fronds of bracken, a wild plant that is foraged along the hills and mountains of Korea. It’s typically served as banchan (a side dish) or in yukgaejang. It has a delicate but distinctly earthy flavor that makes this soup stand out.
Get the Yukgaejang: Spicy Korean Beef Soup recipe.
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10
Escarole & White Bean Soup
This is the perfect go-to soup. Why? You probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already! It's also super-flexible. Got a couple carrots left in the bottom of your crisper? Next to that handful of spinach? Throw 'em in! The more, the merrier (and healthier) in this soup.
Get the .
11
Spring Lamb Ragù
This recipe is the perfect mid-year twist on classic lamb ragù
—pea shoots, anchovies, and fresh herbs brighten the sauce and complement the slight gaminess of the lamb.
Get the Spring Lamb Ragù recipe.
12
Cauliflower Leek Soup
Cauliflower soup on f(LEEK). Want to make this vegetarian? Skip the bacon.
Get the Cauliflower Leek Soup recipe.
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13
Potato, Leek, and Barley Soup
Whole-grain barley gives this savory soup a hearty chowder feel. Serve this with a crusty bread for dipping!
Get the Potato, Leek, and Barley Soup recipe.
14
Slow-Roasted Lamb With Pistachio Gremolata
The pistachio gremolata here adds a citrusy brightness to this heavy meat dish. Try it on osso buco or baked pork chops next!
Get the Slow-Roasted Lamb With Pistachio Gremolata recipe.
15
Split Pea Soup
The secret to the best split pea soup? A good, smoky ham hock. If you don't have one or don't eat meat, consider using some smoked paprika instead.
Get the Split Pea Soup recipe.
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16
Pappardelle With Leeks and Spinach
Pappardelle comes from the Italian word "pappare," meaning "to gobble"—which is exactly what you'll want to do with this delicious pasta dish. The wide, flat noodles make the perfect base for creamy white-wine garlic sauce, sautéed leeks, and fresh baby spinach.
Get the Pappardelle with Leeks and Spinach recipe.
17
Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche
This quiche is the ultimate make-ahead brunch dish. Prepare the egg mixture at night and refrigerate in an airtight container. Come morning, pour it into an oiled baking dish and bake as directed. Easy!
Get the Crustless Ham-and-Leek Quiche recipe from Country Living.
18
Grilled Leek, Zucchini, and Ricotta Pizza
Next time you're at the grocery store, pick up some pizza dough (or make homemade!), leeks, zucchini, lemon, and ricotta, and you can turn any weeknight into homemade pizza night.
Get the Grilled Leek, Zucchini, and Ricotta Pizza recipe from Good Housekeeping.
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19
Ham & Leek Baked Gnocchi
Make this delicious pasta in little ramekins for an easy, individual-sized side dish. You can use store-bought or make your own potato gnocchi for this dish too!
Get the Ham-and-Leek Baked Gnocchi recipe from Country Living.
20
Potato and Leek Pizza
This white pizza has all the your faves—creamy potatoes, onion-y leeks, and bacon for good measure.
Get the Potato and Leek Pizza recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Camille Lowder
Digital Food Producer
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
