In this recipe we first clean and prep the leeks, then boil them in water until just cooked, drain them, and marinate them for several hours (or days) in a vinaigrette with a touch of Dijon mustard. Served at room temperature, the leeks make a lovely salad or side. And given that they love a long marinating time, they’re perfect for making ahead. This recipe comes from my Frenchman Guy (that’s “Gee” with a hard “g”) who grew up eating “poireaux vinaigrette” in France. He made it for my mother’s 78th birthday last week, which we served as a first course to a lasagna bolognese (so good!). He also roasted up some red bell peppers and served them with the leeks, which were lovely together. Funny thing about the leek greens. Recipes almost always say, “use the white and pale green parts only,” but the green tops are full of flavor. We often use green onion greens in recipes. Using more of the dark green tops of leeks is similar. They are a little tougher than the white and pale green parts, but if you are boiling them as in this method, they should tenderize fine with the cooking. To do this, first rinse off any visible dirt from the leeks. Then, use the tip of a sharp knife to pierce the leek just a little bit below the point where the leek’s shaft opens up into separate leaves. Cut the leek from this point all the way out to the tip of the green leaves, keeping the shaft whole. Open up the leaves, and place the leek under running water to clean out any dirt or sand that may be hiding between the leaves. Cut off the dark green tops, leaving about an inch or two (or three if you like the more strongly flavored greens) on the shaft. Cut off the roots, cutting as close to the roots as possible, to help keep the leek together while it simmers in the next step. (For a visual step-by-step, see How to Clean Leeks.) Return to a simmer and lower the heat to maintain a simmer. Start a timer and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the thickest part of the thickest leek can easily be penetrated with the tip of a sharp knife. If your leeks are about an inch thick, they should just begin to be turning from bright green to olive-y green at the 8 minute mark. Thicker leeks you’ll want to cook a little longer. Let them drain for 10 minutes or so while you make the vinaigrette. Cover with plastic wrap and let the leeks marinate in the vinaigrette for at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days. (Chill if marinating more than 2 hours. The longer they marinate, the tastier and more tender they become.) The leeks should be served at room temperature. Alternative serving suggestion: cut the marinated leeks crosswise into 1-inch long segments and serve with strips of roasted red bell peppers that have been marinating in the same vinaigrette. Leeks with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette on Blue Kitchen
