Leeks are another one of those vegetables that are always in my pantry, a habit I inherited from my mother.
At home, they’ve always been used as a base for many different dishes, like onions, but I’ve realized that I’ve rarely cooked them as the star ingredient.
That’s why I couldn’t resist heading to the kitchen to prepare this recipe for braised leeks with nuts when I came across a similar dish by Gordon Ramsay.
It’s a very simple yet truly delicious dish. The leeks are slowly cooked in their own juices, enhanced with a good white wine, resulting in very tender leeks with a delicate and mild flavor. Toasted nuts provide a contrasting crunch, adding a delightful contrast to the dish.
Healthy Low Carb Leeks Recipe
Difficulty: Easy
Total time: 30 min
Elaboration: 5 min
Cooking: 25 min
Ingredients for 2 people
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Large, thick leeks | 2 |
| Garlic clove | 1 |
| White wine | 200 ml |
| Butter | 15 g |
| Balsamic vinegar | to taste |
| Herbes de Provence | to taste |
| Dried fruit (nuts), 1 handful, to taste | as needed |
| Extra virgin olive oil | as needed |
| Fresh parsley or thyme | to taste |
| Coarse salt | to taste |
| Ground black pepper | to taste |
Step-by-step Instructions:
- Clean the leeks and discard the green part, saving it for another use. Cut each one into two or three pieces. Heat a little olive oil in a saucepan or frying pan and add the leeks, browning them over medium heat on both sides for about 3‑4 minutes.
- Add the crushed garlic clove, herbes de Provence, butter, and balsamic vinegar. Once the butter has melted, pour in the white wine, bring to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat. Cook for about 10‑15 minutes, until the leeks are very tender. Check the liquid level occasionally.
- Toast the roughly chopped nuts in a dry pan, being careful not to burn them. Season the leeks with salt and pepper and serve them topped with the nuts and a little fresh parsley or thyme.
What to serve with braised leeks? This recipe for braised leeks with nuts can be served as a first course or as a side dish for meat or fish, as it pairs well with almost anything. Be sure to use up all the juices from the braising process when plating, and serve an extra portion of nuts on the side in case diners would like to add more.
Nutrition Facts
Here’s the plain text nutrition facts table for Healthy Low Carb Leeks Recipe (serving size: ~1 cup cooked leeks; assumes sautéed with 1 tbsp olive oil, yields 2 servings).
| Nutrition | Amount per Serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 kcal | 6% |
| Total Fat | 7 g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 45 mg | 2% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 12 g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g | 11% |
| Total Sugars | 3 g | |
| Protein | 2 g | 4% |
| Calcium | 55 mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1.2 mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 150 mg | 3% |
*Disclaimer: Nutrition estimates are for general guidance only, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Actual values vary with added fats (butter/oil) and leek size/cooking method.*