Leeks: all about the product and recipes

One can hardly say that the leek is part of the daily diet of every second person in our country. We just beginning to settle down, so many this product is not familiar. That onion - leek, why is it needed and what food he can cook? All this in our article.

Leek today in the civilized world is one of the products that you want to include in the daily diet of every aspiring to human health. Nutritionists and doctors strongly recommend him to eat, and those who are with this product are not familiar, seek to correct this omission.

Leek appeared in Southwest Asia, this area of the world is his homeland, he then spread to the Mediterranean (where it can now be found in the wild). This is one of the most ancient in terms of cultivation by man plants his raised and eaten in Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. In Rome it was the food of the wealthy, and the second the name of the Emperor Nero was "eating leeks" - ruler ate a lot of leeks to save the voice for his long speeches. In the middle Ages knew about it already the whole of Europe, but I eat all over the world, but the most popular is it in Western Europe and France.

In our country leeks somehow not reached so far its peak of popularity, even in the middle of the last century, there is still almost no one knew. Only now, with the advent of fashion for a healthy nutrition in Russia, it was talked about, and then he appeared on the shelves, and buy it now can be anyone.

Pearl onions - this is the second of his name, very useful: it contains lots of vitamin C, the amount of which increases with time, the b vitamins, and vitamins a, PP, E, N), sulphur (improves appetite, digestive processes, the activity of the gall bladder and liver), Biotin, minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron).

It is believed that the regular consumption of leeks improves when the scurvy, gout, rheumatism, obesity, kidney stones, fatigue (physical and mental). This product has diuretic and anti-sclerotic effect, increases secretory functions of the glands of the digestive tract, improves liver. Also leeks effective as a preventive cough remedy, cleanses the blood, raising her hemoglobin, accelerates and improves the blood, strengthens the immune system, restores strength and vitality, is antimicrobial, antiseptic. Very recommended by doctors to eat leeks in winter and spring.

The leek is a dietary product: nourishing the body, being nutritious, it "gives" him just cal per 100g (this is, in one stalk, only 60g weight!).

It is important to note: in inflammatory diseases 12 duodenal ulcer and gastric raw to eat leeks impossible. Also in the acute phase of this disease are contraindications to its use.

Culinary properties and recipes from leek

Food is made to use the white part of the leek - stems, however, and the green part is also used for cooking of various dishes - salads, sauces, snacks, etc. the White part is eaten raw, boiled, steamed, fried. The main difference leek from onions - its pleasant mild taste, so don't wince, imagining how unpleasant it would be to eat an ONION, and you should try!

Store leeks in the fridge should not be more than 6 months.

Salads, soups, main dishes, sauces, snacks, toppings - for making all this leek fit just fine, it is quite versatile vegetable.

Recipe cheese soup with leeks

You will need: 500g minced meat, 2-3 processed cheese, in 2 cups of cream/milk and dry white wine/water, 2 stalks leek (white parts), 2 tbsp oregano, sliced mushrooms, pepper, salt.

How to cook cheese soup with leeks. Beef fry in butter in a frying pan, add salt and pepper, add the leeks, roast and blend all in a blender. Water, milk, cream or wine to boil, put the leeks with meat, 10 minutes to extinguish on weak fire, season with spices, pour the milk/cream and cook for 10 minutes, put the cheese to melt, bring the soup until smooth, add oregano, pepper and salt, bring to boil, turn off the stove. Before serving, put in the soup sauteed mushrooms.

With leeks can be cooked more simple and familiar soups, just adding it instead of onions or diversifying their ingredients, combining with traditional components of the recipe.

Recipe potato casserole with leeks

You will need: 500g potatoes, 150g cheese and sour cream, 30g butter for the base and toppings, 2 eggs and white stalk of leek, 1 egg for the basics, vegetable oil, sweet pepper, nutmeg, salt.

How to cook potato casserole with leeks. Boil peeled potatoes and blend, adding half of the beaten eggs and butter for the base. Distribute potato dough on the baking dish, making the bottom and sides of 1 cm thickness, coat with remaining egg and bake for 15 minutes in a preheated abs the oven. Chop the white part of the leek mugs 0.5 cm thick. Saute leeks in butter until soft. Lightly beat eggs for the filling, mix with most of the grated cheese and sour cream, pepper and salt. On potato based put the onions, pour in the dressing, sprinkle with cheese and bake for 30-40 minutes in a preheated 180 degree oven until Golden brown and thick filling.

Very tasty with leek stew. Such a stew can be prepared only from vegetables, vegetables and cereals, meat, poultry - recipes a lot.

Recipe stew with leeks and shrimp

You will need: 1 kg of large shrimp without heads, 150ml cream (30%, 200g oyster mushrooms and champignons, 3 large stalk of leek, 3 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp. pepper-sweet peas, salt.

How to cook stew with shrimp and leek. Cut off the legs of mushrooms, cut into large cap, clean the shrimp, rinse them and put on a baking tray, under a very hot grill or in a hot oven and bake for 10 minutes. Then put the shells taken from the shrimp to the skillet, add the mushroom legs, pour 2 cups of cold water, add salt and pepper, bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 15 minutes, strain the broth. In half lengthwise, cut the stalks of leeks, cut into half rings and fry for 10 minutes in butter, pour in the broth and simmer for 10 minutes. Olive oil to heat in a large skillet, saut the shrimp over high heat, put them on a plate with a slotted spoon, fry well as hats. Put the mushrooms and shrimp in the frying pan to the leeks, add the cream, 5 min to put out sunflower. Served this stew hot

From the leaves of the leeks are very fragrant broth, if you add them, otvarivaya meat, poultry, fish soup. They are older than neprigodnoi in food, because eventually become rough and unpleasant to taste.

The leek is a wonderful product that is not only very useful but also very tasty, try, explore this vegetable closer - you will provide invaluable assistance to their own health! Be healthy!