Leek dip is a vegetable or cracker dip made with sautéed leeks and a dairy base, often flavored with herbs, spices, and other ingredients. It is typically served with sliced vegetables or crackers. Leeks have a mild, sweet flavor when cooked and are a member of the lily family.
Leek dip includes any vegetable or cracker dip that uses leek as a base flavoring. A cousin of the onion, leeks have a pungent flavour. Most people who make leek dip cook the leeks enough to appeal to the sweetness of the vegetable, however, often making the dip milder and more appealing to a wider range of tastes. Some leek sauces also combine leeks with other vegetables or ingredients to add dimension to the flavor. These dips are typically served with a plate of sliced vegetables or crackers.
Allium porrum, more commonly known as the leek, is a member of the lily family, along with onions, shallots, garlic, and chives. Leeks have a flavor that closely mimics the flavor of onions, but when cooked, leeks take on a sweeter, milder flavor than onions. The vegetable measures about 1 foot long (about 30 centimeters) and its stem is about 2 inches (about 5 centimeters) in diameter. Layers of dark green leaves tightly wrap around a pale green stem, which gradually turns white as it reaches the small bulb at the bottom of the plant. Both the stem and leaves of the leek are edible, but some recipes call for one over the other.
Many people who dip leeks prefer to use the white and pale green parts of the stem instead of the dark green leaves. The leeks are halved and cut into thin rings measuring about 1/3 inch (about 8 millimeters) or smaller. In a preheated pan coated with butter, the cook sautées the pieces until softened. Some cooks may continue to saute leeks until they begin to brown and caramelize. This cooking process minimizes the pungency of the leeks by releasing their aroma and bringing out their delicate flavor.
After the leeks have been cooked, they need to be added to a dairy base. Most dips are made with sour cream, and the medium leek dip is no exception. Many cooks also add a soft cheese, such as goat cheese, and some cream cheese substitute for the sour cream in order to create a richer tasting dip. The dairy ingredients are thoroughly blended together before the cook mixes into the sauteed leek slices, making for a very simple and basic leek dip.
Most people like to add other ingredients to the dip to create a more complex flavor. Herbs, spices, and greens, including parsley, black pepper, salt, and chives, are the most common and subtle possibilities. Some individuals may also add mixed greens, such as peas or chopped nuts, such as almonds, peanuts or walnuts, to alter the taste and texture of the leek sauce. Pieces of finely chopped cooked bacon create a dip with a more intense flavor.
Leek dips are usually served with raw vegetable platters or crackers. Vegetables commonly served on plates include cucumbers, celery, cauliflower and carrots. For more variety, people can also include less common vegetables like radishes or kohlrabi. Alternatively, a leek dip can be served alongside gourmet crackers, chips and bread sticks, instead of greens.
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