The French consider the taste of leeks to be refined, so it is no coincidence that they are a main ingredient in their soups and vegetable dishes, called mirepoix - leeks/onions, carrots and celery. Luckily, leeks can be found year-round in markets, which means you can include them regularly in your culinary creations.
Cooking with leeks is also a long-standing tradition in conventional Bulgarian cuisine. Let us offer you a typical Bulgarian recipe, especially suitable for the wintertime and a recipe for cream soup with leeks.
The first one is for leeks with rice in the oven. The dish can be served as a main course, as well as a delicious garnish for steaks. Additionally, it is quick and easy to prepare.
Here are the necessary ingredients for 4 servings of leeks with rice in the oven.
Ingredients: 2 bunches of leeks, 2 tablespoons tomato paste or 1 small tomato, 1 cup of rice, 2-3 tablespoons oil and salt, about 10 pitted olives.
Preparation: The preparation time for the dish is about 40 min.
Clean the leeks, wash them and cut them into thin slices. Put them in preheated oil and sauté for about 5 min. Throw in the washed rice and stir continuously for another 5 min. Remove the leeks with rice from the stove and add in the finely chopped tomato or tomato paste.
Next, add the sliced olives, salt and stir. Pour the resulting mixture into an appropriate oven dish, pour in 3 cups of water and put it in an oven preheated to 360°F (180° C). The dish is ready once the rice has absorbed the water and has swollen. Of course, if it is not cooked enough you can add some more water.
The next recipe is for cream soup with leeks and cream cheese. It ends up quite delicious. Here are the required products for 4 servings.
Ingredients: 2 bunches of leeks, 1 small celery head, 2 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp cream cheese, 4 1/5 cups chicken broth.
Preparation: Wash and clean the leeks, cut them into round slices. Grate the celery. Then sauté them in the heated butter in the pot. Add the flour and stir very thoroughly, pour in the broth and stir once again. Let the soup boil until the leeks soften. Then, add the cream cheese. For your soup to be even more scrumptious you can add 1 tablespoon of sour cream.
Bon appetit!
