9-07-2025 4:18am

Philosophizing About Food With Francine: LEEKS

Lesley Misko Editor

by Francine Black

This evening’s dinner of stuffed chicken breasts features a stuffing of leeks, mushrooms, yellow bell pepper, mild cheddar, and herbs with a sauce of tiny burst tomatoes.

Our dear friend Erin Wade generously gifted us six big bundles of leeks, several of which I’ve chopped and frozen for use in the future. These, however, will find themselves in this evening’s skillet dinner.

Leeks are an ancient and greatly prized member of the allium family. Mentioned in the Bible as one of the foods the Israelites missed most when they fled Egypt, they were, in fact, cultivated by the ancient Egyptians and were said to have given strength to the builders of the great pyramids.

The Ancient Greek physician, Hippocrates, prescribed leeks to cure nosebleeds and the great king of the Holy Roman Empire, Charlemagne, insisted on them being planted in his kitchen garden. Centuries later, in their war against the Saxons, Welsh soldiers identified themselves by wearing a leek on their helmets.

What’s so good about leeks? For me, they are milder tasting than their sharp cousin, the onion, and I love their variation of colors, going from pale yellow to deep green. In addition, leeks are much higher in nutrients than onions so I use them whenever I can in cooking. They’re lovely sautéed in butter with a bit of white wine and a grating of Parmesan and of course in soups and stews as well.

I hope you give them a try!

Readers may wish to try this recipe for Potato Leek Soup from "All Recipes." Click here.

High in the mountains above Bally, where the dense groves of treetops seem to touch the sky, isFrancine Black, Boyertown’s own version of chef Julia Child. Her daily activities reflect the things she most values: family and friends, music, and lovingly prepared food.High in the mountains above Bally, where the dense groves of treetops seem to touch the sky, isFrancine Black, Boyertown’s own version of chef Julia Child. Her daily activities reflect the things she most values: family and friends, music, and lovingly prepared food.