I love using leeks. I think they are a great alternative to onions. Don’t get me wrong…I love onions too – especially when caramelized – but leeks add a refreshingly new flavor to a food or recipe. Anyway… I love leeks, but I don’t love cleaning them… they can be gritty if not cleaned really well.
Recently I came across a recipe in Smitten Kitchen and she recommended dumping them in water after cutting to clean them. I figured I would give it a try and was so excited when I let them go into the tub of water and they floated back up to the top! Woo-hoo! The grit sunk to the bottom and the the leeks rose to the top!
Did anyone else know this special trick? If you did, then why didn’t you share it with me!?!? Any other special tricks I should know? I felt almost foolish as I dunked them in the water thinking I would have to fish them back up from the bottom. As they came to the top I am sure a beaming smile spread on my face. It was such a pleasant surprise!
So next time you have a recipe that calls for leeks cut them and then dunk them up and down in a big bowl of water as you pull the layers apart. The sand and dirt will fall to the bottom and the leeks will float on the top. Please Share it! 🙂
