I love to make these Caramelized Grilled Leeks on the grill or in the oven. They have such a unique and sweet flavor and go well with rice, corn on the cob, and any other veggies and starch.
We love grilled leeks because they’re…
- Subtly sweet
- Saucy
- Tender
- Super healthy
- Flavorful
- Wholesome
The subtle, sweet flavor of the leek lends itself well to pairing with most any other grilled veggie.
Cleaning leeks
The most important thing is to make sure and remove any sand or grit from between the layers. To do this, cut off the tops (hair-like end) and most of the tough green parts from the other end, like in this picture.
Then slice them in half, from top to bottom. Fan out the layers and rinse under running water to remove any dirt or grit.
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Cooking leeks
These can be grilled or baked in the oven. I like to place them on a hot grill to get the darkened grill marks before adding seasonings.
Place leeks in a grill-proof pan. I line an aluminum disposable pan with parchment paper.
Season with garlic powder, minced garlic, parsley flakes, and vegetarian ‘oyster’ sauce or soy sauce.
Add 1/4 cup water to maintain moisture. Fold the parchment paper over top. Then cover with a sheet of foil. Toss on the grill and allow to cook at medium-high heat approximately 30 minutes.
If not cooked long enough, they will be chewy. If baking in the oven, bake at 350 degrees, 30 minutes. Remove from grill and serve warm!
Leeks have such beautifully sweet flavor and are so unique to this vegetable.
RECIPE CARD BELOW
Tips for cooking
- Don’t skimp on the washing process. There’s nothing worse than biting into gritty leeks.
- There are some studies linking cooking with aluminum foil to Alzheimer’s disease, so I avoid allowing foil to touch my food while cooking, just to be safe. Parchment paper works great for this.
- Make sure to cook well. Undercooked leeks are a bit chewy.
Nutrition in leeks
A close relative of onions and garlic, leeks have a mild onion-like flavor that works well in soups and a variety of other dishes.
One cup of leeks — approximately one whole leek — contains just 54 calories, so leeks add bulk to your meal to keep you feeling full, without significantly boosting your calorie intake.
Leeks serve as excellent sources of vitamins, and also offer health benefits thanks to their phytonutrient content.—LiveStrong
Other grilling recipes
Caramelized Grilled Leeks
It's time to fire-up the grill! The subtle, sweet flavor of the leek lends itself well to pairing with most any other grilled veggie.
Ingredients
- 3-4 whole leeks
- minced garlic, fresh or from a jar
- vegetarian "oyster" sauce, or soy sauce (if gluten-free, check the label)
- parsley flakes
- garlic powder
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Leeks look like giant green onions, and are from the onion family, but they don't taste like them at all. Leeks have a wonderful sweet flavor.
- The most important thing is to make sure and remove any sand or grit from between the layers. To do this, cut off the tops (hair-like end) and most of the tough green parts from the other end, like this picture. Then slice them in half, from top to bottom.
- Now, fan out the layers and rinse under running water to remove any dirt or grit.
- These can be grilled or baked in oven. I like to place them on a hot grill to get the darkened grill marks before adding seasonings.
- Place leeks in grill-proof pan. I line an aluminum disposable pan with parchment paper. There are some studies linking cooking with aluminum foil to Alzheimer's disease, so I avoid allowing foil to touch my food while cooking, just to be safe.
- Season with garlic powder, minced garlic, parsley flakes, and vegetarian 'oyster' sauce or soy sauce. (A link to amazon for this sauce is below.) Add 1/4 cup water to maintain moisture.
- Fold parchment paper over top.
- Then cover with a sheet of foil. Toss on the grill and allow to cook at medium high heat approximately 30 minutes. If not cooked long enough, they will be chewy. If baking in oven, bake at 350 degrees, 30 minutes.
- Remove from grill and serve warm!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 47 Total Fat: 0g Carbohydrates: 11g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 3g Protein: 2g
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