1. a vegetable in the onion family with a long white stem and flat dark green leave
1.nounB1
Definition
a vegetable in the onion family with a long white stem and flat dark green leaves, usually cooked before eating and having a mild taste similar to onion.
Example
Pim chopped the leeks and added them to the chicken soup.
cooking action: chop + add to [dish]
A row of leeks grew along the back fence of the garden.
Ishaan roasted the leeks with olive oil until they turned golden brown.
cooking method: roast with [ingredient]
For this stew, you will need two large leeks and one carrot.
recipe instruction: need [quantity] for dish
Layla had never tried leeks until she tasted a creamy potato leek soup.
a much thinner, grass-like herb from the same plant family; used as a fresh garnish rather than cooked as a vegetable
Common Mistakes
Please buy two leeks from the market for the salad.' (Leeks are usually too tough to eat raw.)
Please buy two leeks from the market for the soup.
Leeks need cooking; they are not eaten raw like scallions or lettuce.
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Leeks, scallions (also called spring onions or green onions), and chives are all edible allium plants, but they differ greatly in how they are used. Leeks have a thick white stem and flat green tops; they are always cooked before eating because the texture is tough. Scallions are much thinner, with a small white bulb and hollow green leaves; they can be eaten raw in salads or as a garnish. Chives are the thinnest — grass-like hollow leaves used mainly as a fresh herb sprinkled on dishes. In cooking, a leek plays the role of a main vegetable (as in leek and potato soup), while scallions add a finishing flavour and chives provide a mild garnish. In Taiwan, leeks (韭蔥) appear in stir-fries and braised dishes, scallions (蔥) are a daily seasoning, and chives (韭菜) are a distinct vegetable used in dumplings and pancakes.
The word 'leek' comes from Old English 'lēac', which is related to Dutch 'look' and German 'Lauch' — all referring to plants in the onion family. The ancient Greeks called it 'prason' and the Romans 'porrum'. Leeks have been grown in Europe for thousands of years. They later became a national symbol of Wales: legend says Welsh soldiers wore leeks on their helmets during a battle to tell friend from enemy, and today the leek appears on Welsh coats of arms and is worn on St. David's Day.