Poireaux vinaigrette, or leeks with vinaigrette: another example of classic French cuisine. Super soft steamed leeks drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette! If you have visited Paris before, then you might have come across this traditional starter in an authentic French bistro!
Do you like classic French cuisine?
Then you will love this next leek recipe!
Have you ever heard of this one?
Poireaux vinaigrette…
Leeks with vinaigrette.
French Classic
Let’s dissect that one first off.
Vinaigrette, I have an inkling that you might all be well familiar with this cooking term. It is a dressing that consists of vinegar, mustard, olive oil and fresh herbs.
And poireaux?
Well that is French for leeks. So there you go. Plain and simple.
Leeks with vinaigrette.
There is really nothing more to it!
Easy French Leeks with Vinaigrette
I heard of this dish for the first time in a cool Paris bistro restaurant, Le Bouillon Chartier.
Leeks with vinaigrette or poireaux vinaigrette are mainly served as a starter to boost your appetite.
Just like French parsley ham, another popular starter.
Look at it.
I mean, it is not rocket science.
To give you another popular French starter (also on the menu at Le Bouillon Chartier): oeuf dur mayonnaise. Oeuf dur is French for hard boiled egg. And mayonnaise, well you all know that one.
So here is what you get: a hard-boiled egg dressed in mayo.
It can also mean deviled eggs.
That depends on the chef.
Easy Summer Starter
So here you go: leeks with vinaigrette.
Poireaux vinaigrette.
It is just great as a fresh starter or a light summer lunch. You can easily steam the leeks a day in advance and assemble the vinaigrette in just a couple of minutes right before you plan to serve it.
Quick and easy.
Do you want to make this type of dish but don’t you like leeks?
Then I suggest that you replace them by steamed green or white asparagus for instance. Or spring onions. Anyway, a vegetable that you can steam and prep in advance and tastes just as good when you serve it cold!
Enjoy!
Easy French Leeks with Vinaigrette Recipe
Another example of classic French cuisine. Super soft steamed leeks drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette, leeks with vinaigrette!
- 2 small fresh leeks
- ½ tsp mustard
- 2 tbsp good quality olive oil
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 hard boiled egg
- pepper
- salt
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1. Trim and clean the leeks. Cut them into 3 pieces. Rinse them well under cold running tap water.
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2. Steam the leeks for 30 minutes. If you don't have a steamer, you can use a pasta pan instead. Place the leeks on the bottom of the pasta pan basket and add about and inch (2,5 cm) of water to the pan.
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3. Put a lid on the pan, bring the water to a good boil over medium-high heat and steam the leeks for 30 minutes until they are very soft. (You can also just boil the leeks.)
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4. Let the cooked leeks cool down at room temperature. In the meantime make a simple vinaigrette. Pour the white wine vinegar in a small cup and add the mustard.
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5. Stir well. Then add the olive oil little by little. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
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6. Check the seasoning. Add extra vinegar, mustard or pepper to taste if necessary.
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7. Peel the hard boil egg and mash it using a fork into a crumble.
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Slice the cooled leeks lengthwise in half and divide them over deep plates. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and the crumbled egg. Finish with extra freshly ground pepper. Serve at room temperature.
