A simple recipe for Leek Oil- a fragrant flavorful oil to drizzle over soups, stews, bread or pizza, dips, roasted veggies and much more!
Here’s a very simple recipe for Leek Oil, that you can make using the green tops of leeks that often go unused. It is full of earthy umami flavor and we’ve been drizzling it over soups and stews, risotto, bread and dips.
You’ll find many uses for this!
Step 1: Slice off the green tops of leeks and wash them well.
Step 2: Blanch in salted boiling water for 90 seconds or until tender.
Step 3: Drain and rinse in cold water.
Drain again and pat dry with paper towels.
Step 4: Place in a blender with a mild-tasting oil and salt and blend until fairly smooth- but not overly smooth.
Step 5: At this point, you can strain, but or for extra flavor let this sit for several hours (on the counter, covered) or overnight (refrigerated) for the best flavor.
Step 6: Strain and pour into a sealable jar.
It will be a beautiful shade of green.
Store the Leek Oil in a jar in the fridge for 7-10 days, or freeze for later.
Use this flavorful Leek Oil with:
- Coconut Corn Chowder with Leeks
- Instant Pot Butternut Risotto with Leeks
- Leek Bread
- Rainbow Veggie Hummus
- Farmers Market Vegetable Soup
- Ribollita! (Tuscan White Bean Soup)
Leek Oil
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup
- Category: condiments, sauces,
- Method: blended
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Never let those leek tops go to waste again, make this Leek oil! A fragrant flavorful oil to drizzle over soups, stews, bread, or roasted veggies.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water with 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium pot.
- Once boiling add the leek tops and simmer for 90 seconds, or vibrant green and tender.
- Strain and run under cold water for 30 seconds. Blot the leeks dry with paper towels.
- Place leeks and salt in a blender with 1 cup oil. Blend until fairly smooth (but not overly smooth- see photo), scraping down the sides and blending again.
- At this point, you can strain, but or for extra flavor let this sit for several hours (on the counter, covered) or overnight (refrigerated) for the most robust flavor.
- Strain, pressing it down with the back of a spoon, store in a sealed jar or bottle in the fridge for up to 10 days.
- This can also be frozen.
Notes
The oil will be most flavorful if you wait 12- 24 hours before straining.
Blending it too smooth will make it more difficult to strain. So blend, but you still want to see small particles.
Make sure your oil is not bitter or overly flavored. A lighter style olive oil or grapeseed oil works best here.
The leftover, strained leek paste can be used to flavor soups and stews, or slathered on bread.
Keywords: Flavored oils, leek oil, how to make leek oil, scallion oil, chive oil, leek oil recipe,
This is probably a stupid question, but if you can use the leftover, strained leek paste, why separate the oil from it in the first place? Can’t you just slather the paste with oil still in it on bread, in stews, etc? Is it because the oil is more concentrated?
Not stupid at all Kelly and totally fine to do that! Straining just gives a more refined look, clarified, clear emerald color- great for upscale plate presentation. 🙂 But I also love the rustic feel of the paste. Do what suits you!
Hello ~
I am going to make this recipe as it sounds delicious and versatile.
I have a question about letting the blended mix sit. Should it be refrigerated during this process or left at room temperature? Covered or uncovered?
Thanks.
I added more notes to the recipe card- I appreciate the question, it really needed clarifying!
Used the stove top method with mix in of parm…topped with the maple pecans… amazing! “This is the best meal we have had in quite a while”…actual quote from delighted partner 😁
★★★★★
Awesome! you must be talking about the Butternut Risotto that goes with this?
Leek oil is life changing.
★★★★★
Haha! It IS! xo
Oops! Forgot to rate it!
★★★★★
Thank you for this recipe. I love that it makes use of the otherwise wasted dark green leek tops. And it’s delicious! I made the recipe as directed, using grapeseed oil and letting the leek steep in the oil for 20 hours prior to straining. In rereading the recipe and notes when returning to comment, I noticed note #4, but I had already decided to keep the leftover leek paste and have used it in cooked rice and on vichyssoise. Way too good to discard!
★★★★★
I think that my leeks were too wet as my vita-mix emulsified everything, so no straining. Still taste great, it’s just thick…
★★★★★
Oh shoot! Yes, if over blended, impossible to strain. Try pulsing next time??
Beautiful tasting oil. Beautiful colour. It is wonderful to have something to do with the leek tops. Thank you.
Yay!!!! so. glad you gave this a try!
So, just a question. The more tender white bottoms of the leeks are not used for this oil, is that correct? I have always thrown out the tougher tops so I”m thrilled to find this recipe.
Yes, that is correct. This is designed especially for those tougher tops!!! A way not to waste them.