Kamil Perry
Leeks in cheese sauce is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a side or main course. The key to this recipe is preparing the leeks correctly and creating a smooth, creamy cheese sauce. The leeks should be trimmed, washed, and cut into short lengths before being steamed or boiled until tender. Meanwhile, a basic white sauce is made by cooking butter and flour together, gradually adding milk to form a paste, and then stirring in cheese until melted. The leeks are then covered in the sauce and baked in the oven, resulting in a bubbling, golden dish with a crunchy layer of breadcrumbs on top.
Characteristics and their values for cooking leeks in cheese sauce
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oven temperature | 190-220°C |
| Leek preparation | Cut root ends, trim, wash, cut into 3-5 cm pieces, steam or boil until tender |
| Cheese sauce preparation | Melt butter, add flour, cook, gradually add milk, stir, add seasonings and cheese, stir until melted |
| Baking dish preparation | Butter dish, pile leeks, spoon sauce, sprinkle cheese and breadcrumbs |
| Baking time | 20-30 minutes, until golden and crisp |
| Serving suggestion | Leave to stand for 5 minutes, serve as a side dish |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the leeks
Once your leeks are prepared, it's time to cook them. You can steam the leeks for 5-10 minutes, boil them in lightly salted water for 5 minutes, or try a combination of both methods. If you want to add extra flavour, cook the leeks in a little butter before adding them to the cheese sauce. They are ready when they are bright green and just tender, with a knife sliding in easily. Remember to drain the leeks well after cooking, and then they are ready to be added to your cheese sauce!
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Making the cheese sauce
To make the cheese sauce, start by melting butter in a pan over medium heat. Then, add an equal amount of flour to the butter and stir it together. Cook the flour and butter mixture for about 1 minute. Be careful not to add the milk too quickly to the pan. Instead, add the milk a little at a time, stirring continuously to avoid lumps and ensure it is fully absorbed before adding more. You can also add a splash of the reserved cooking liquid, whisking well between each addition. Continue until you have a thick, creamy, and smooth sauce.
Next, add the cheese. You can use whichever cheese you prefer, such as mature cheddar, or a Welsh cheese. You can also add extra decadence by replacing some of the milk with single or double cream. Additionally, you can add mustard to the sauce to complement the cheese flavour and add an extra flavour dimension. French Dijon mustard is a good choice for a mild, distinctive flavour, or you can use English mustard for a fierier taste. If you don't like mustard, you can leave it out.
Finally, season the sauce with salt and pepper, and perhaps some nutmeg. You can also add some garlic powder and bay leaves for extra flavour. Stir everything together until the cheese is completely melted and you have a thick, smooth cheese sauce. Now your cheese sauce is ready to be poured over the leeks!
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Combining the leeks and sauce
The cheese sauce can be made while the leeks are cooking. Start by melting butter in a pan, then add flour and cook for about a minute. Next, gradually add milk, stirring continuously, until you have a thick sauce. You can add mustard, nutmeg, and garlic powder to taste, and season with salt and pepper. Finally, stir in the cheese until melted.
Once the leeks are tender, drain them and arrange them in a baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the leeks, and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and thyme. The dish can then be baked in the oven until golden and bubbling.
If you want to prepare the dish in advance, you can store the cheese sauce and unbaked dish separately in the fridge for a couple of days. It is best to let the dish come to room temperature before baking, to ensure that it cooks evenly.
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Toppings and baking
Once you've prepared the cheese sauce and cooked the leeks, it's time to assemble and bake your dish. Start by scattering the leeks into a baking dish. If you're feeling fancy, use a shallow baking dish and lightly butter it first. Then, pour the cheese sauce over the leeks.
Next, it's time to add the toppings. Fresh breadcrumbs are a popular choice, adding a crisp and crunchy layer to the dish. You can make your own fresh breadcrumbs using stale bread, or by toasting pieces of bread in a warm oven for about 20 minutes until they're dried out. If you're using breadcrumbs, sprinkle them on top of the cheese sauce. You can also mix them with a little extra cheese for an extra indulgent topping.
Some recipes suggest adding a sprinkle of thyme or nutmeg to taste, and a generous pinch of black pepper. For a golden, bubbly finish, dot the top of the dish with butter before baking.
Bake your leeks in the oven for around 20-30 minutes, until golden and bubbling at the edges. If you're short on time, you can grill the dish instead, keeping a close eye on it to avoid burning.
This dish can also be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to two days before baking. Just remember to take it out of the fridge about an hour before baking so it can come to room temperature.
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Serving suggestions
Leeks in cheese sauce can be served as a simple meat-free main or as a side dish. They go well with roast dinners, especially roast chicken, and are a great option if you are serving vegetarians as well as meat-eaters. They can also be served as a side for a St. David's Day supper.
The dish can be served as a bubbling, golden, and crisp bake, or grilled until golden. It can be served straight from the oven, or you can make the dish in advance and chill it until required. To serve, bake in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the leeks are piping hot and the topping is crisp and golden.
The basic leek and cheese sauce can also be used as a filling for jacket potatoes or stirred through freshly cooked pasta, topped with sliced tomatoes and grilled until golden.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for several days and easily reheated in the microwave or an air fryer.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to cook leeks in cheese sauce. One way is to steam or boil the leeks, make a cheese sauce by melting butter and flour together, and then combine the two.
You will need leeks, butter, flour, milk, cheese, and seasoning. For the cheese sauce, you can also add mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
You can use any type of cheese you like! Cheddar, parmesan, and Welsh cheese are all mentioned as possible options.
Yes, you can make the cheese sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for a couple of days. You can also prepare the whole dish, wrap it well, and refrigerate until you are ready to cook it.
Leeks in cheese sauce make a great side dish, especially for roast dinners or with roast chicken. They can also be served as a simple meat-free main course.
