When Life Gives You Leeks – Make Soup!

I love a good potato leek soup but had personally never made one until last summer. It was a chilly, June afternoon along the Marin coast, and I was in the mood for something warm and cozy. I stumbled upon some gorgeous leeks at the neighborhood farmstand earlier that day, and my boyfriend’s parents had a ton of homegrown potatoes that were begging to be dug up and eaten. With those two ingredients on hand, it was clear that a classic was on the menu for dinner. At the end of the day, my impromptu recipe worked out well and my humble soup was an absolute winner! The best thing about that meal, other than the taste, were the locally grown ingredients and how quickly it came together.

INGREDIENTS

• Leeks [ 1 Large Bunch ] 
• Potatoes  [ 2 – 4 Pounds of Your Favorite Spud ] 
• Garlic [ 3 – 4 Cloves ]
• Chicken Stock [ 1 Box ]
• Butter [ 2 Tablespoons ]
• Salt [ 1/4 Teaspoon ]
• Black Pepper [ A Few Grinds ]

TOOLS

• Large Pot
• Colander
• Cutting Board
• Sharp Knife
• Cooking Spoon
• Stick Blender or Standard Blender
• Ladle

YIELD

This recipe makes 4 – 6 servings.

EXTRAS

This meal is already vegetarian. However, if you want to make it vegan – simply swap out the chicken stock with vegetable stock & the butter with olive oil 🙂

Step One

Have fun!

Step Two

Clean your potatoes and peel them if you are using varietals with a thick brown skin such as Russets. If using larger potatoes, cut them into cubes after you’ve peeled them. I typically use smaller potatoes, remove the larger eyes, and leave the skin on. When I made this soup last summer, the potatoes were small and thin skinned so all I had to do was give them a good scrub after pulling them from the ground.

Fill your large pot with water and turn your stove on to the highest setting. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, drop in your potatoes.

Step Three

While your potatoes are boiling, prepare your leeks.

First – cut off the root end. Second – cut off the dark green leaves. Next – rinse the stalks in cool water to remove all of the dirt. There are a variety of ways to clean leeks. Some folks prefer slicing their leeks into rounds or lengthwise and then placing them in a bowl or dish of water. The leeks will float on top of the water as the dirt sinks to the bottom. Swoosh the leeks around until they look fully clean. When I made this soup, I chose to fan out the stalk and rinse the layers under the running water of the faucet until all of the dirt was removed. Whatever method you choose – just do your best to remove all of the sand and silt.

Once they are thoroughly cleaned, slice your leeks into rounds or half moons.

Step Four

Check on your potatoes. Once they are fork tender – remove them from the stove, and carefully drain the water using your colander.

Step Five

Return your large pot to the stove and add in your butter or olive oil. Warm over medium heat. Next throw in your sliced leeks. Sauté the leeks until they are tender.

Step Six

While your leeks are cooking down, peel your garlic. Cut the cloves in half and throw them into the pot with the leeks.

Step Seven

Roughly chop up your cooked potatoes before adding them into the pot with the leeks. Season everything with a half teaspoon of salt and a few turns of fresh ground black pepper.

Step Eight

Next, pour in one box of chicken stock or vegetable stock. Stir everything together, and bring your soup to a boil.

Step Nine

Once the soup has reached a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and allow to gently cook for 10 to 15 minutes so all of the flavors can meld together.

Step Ten

Last but not least, use a stick blender to puree your soup into a smooth consistency. If you do not have a stick blender, allow your soup to drop to room temperature before placing it into a traditional blender for mixing. Once all of your soup is blended, reheat it on the stove.

Step Eleven

The potatoes will give the soup a nice, creamy texture. Taste the soup, and add some salt a sprinkle at a time until it’s seasoned to your liking.

Step Twelve

Ladle up a bowl and enjoy!