Learn how to cut leeks and wash them to remove every last bit of sandy residue before using them in delicious soups, stews, and sauteed recipes.
PREP TIME 10 minutesminutes
TOTAL TIME 10 minutesminutes
YIELD 1chopped leek
Ingredients
1fresh leek
Instructions
How to Cut the Leek
Trim the root end of the leek and discard the tip. Cut the dark leafy green top off the other end of the leek. See photos above for reference.
Cut the leek in half lengthwise. Place each half cut side down on the board and cut again in long strips.
Cut the leek into small chunks cross wise.
How to Wash the Leek
Scrape the chopped leeks into the basket of a salad spinner. Start by giving the leek a thorough rinse as best you can.
With the leeks inside the basket of the spinner, fill the entire salad spinner with water and let it sit.
All those thin layers tend to stick together. Use your fingers to gently swish the leeks that are floating in the water all around and separate the layers so the water can rinse the sand.
Gently pull the spinner basket up out of the water, straining the leeks as you go. Dump the water from the bowl out.
Place the basket back in the spinner and spin the leeks dry with a couple of pumps on the handle.
Repeat steps 1 - 4 until absolutely no more sand appears in the bottom of the salad spinner. It usually takes me about 3 tries before the leeks are completely clean.