Baconkaleandleeks Recipes

SAUTEED LEEK WITH BACON

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until done. Add the leek and butter and saute until the leek is tender, about 7-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

LEEK, POTATO, AND BACON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven 325 degrees F.
• Butter an 8-by-8-inch square flameproof casserole dish. Halve the leeks lengthwise, and then cut them crosswise into half circles (There should be about 1 3/4 cups.). Put the cut leeks in the basket of a salad spinner, or a colander set in a bowl, and fill with water. Swish the leeks around to flush out any grit. Lift the basket from water--don't pour the water off or you will pour any grit right back over the leeks.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and fry the bacon until crispy, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool, then crumble. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the pan drippings, add the butter and leeks, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a small saucepan with the garlic, thyme, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and water, to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then drain. Discard the thyme and garlic and add potatoes to the leeks.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs and half-and-half, then stir in the leek mixture, 1 cup of the cheese, the bacon, and nutmeg. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and some pepper. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, cover with foil and bake until just set but still moist, about 55 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Position a rack in the upper part of the oven and preheat the broiler. Scatter the remaining 1 cup cheese over the casserole and broil until the cheese browns, about 3 minutes. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Unmold or serve from baking dish.

PASTA WITH BACON AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water; drain the pasta.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings from the skillet.
• Add the leeks to the drippings in the skillet. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream and cook until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta to the skillet along with the parmesan, half of the bacon and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; toss to coat, adding enough of the reserved pasta cooking water to loosen. To serve, top with the remaining bacon, more parmesan and parsley.

BACON, KALE AND LEEKS

Steps:

• Slice the Leeks.
• If you have bought kurly kale that isn't trimmed, trim it now, disposing of any woody stalks.
• Chop the bacon if necessary. With buying the mis shapes packs of bacon, sometimes it does need to be chopped, other times it is already in small enough pieces.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan and another tbsp in a large saucepan (large enough to hold all that kale).
• Cook the bacon in the frying pan until done to your liking, some people like it crisped, some prefer it just cooked enough.
• Cook the leeks in the saucepan, over a low heat, so that they soften rather than brown.
• About 4 or 5 minutes before you think the bacon is done, put 3/4 of the kale into the saucepan with the leeks, stir and pop a lid on until the bacon is finished.
• When the bacon is done, tip it into the saucepan with the leeks and kale and add the rest of the kale. Stir to mix, the heat will be enough enough to wilt that last addition of kale.
• The bacon usually provides enough saltiness and the kale enough pepperiness, but taste and season if you think it is necessary.
• You could use any other dark green leafy vegetable depending on what is on offer. Spinach, Spring greens, green cabbage, anything like that. And you could substitute onions for the leeks if you wished.

CHEESY LEEK & BACON PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the leeks and 2 tbsp water, and cook for about 10 mins until very soft. Add the bacon, turn up the heat and fry until cooked.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions. Drain and reserve a mug of the cooking water.
• Spoon cheese into the leek and bacon mix, adding some of the reserved cooking water. Season and stir gently over a low heat until melted. Toss through the cooked pasta, adding a little more cooking water, if needed, to help the sauce coat the pasta.

LEEKS 'N' BACON

Steps:

• *NOTE: Can use pepper bacon instead in which case you would omit the black pepper seasoning as indicated in the recipe directions.
• Discard green parts of leeks and thinly slice the white parts.
• In large saute pan on medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp. DO NOT burn! Set aside on paper towel. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat.
• Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Then add the leeks and celery sauteeing another 4-5 minutes or until softnened, stirring often.
• Crumble the bacon and stir into the leeks. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

LEEKS WITH BACON & MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large frying pan, then add the bacon and fry for a few mins until golden. Add the thyme, mushrooms and leeks with seasoning (remember bacon can be salty), cover pan and cook on a low heat for 20-25 mins until leeks are tender.

CREAMED LEEKS WITH BACON & THYME

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the bacon for 5 mins, then turn down the heat, add the white wine and simmer to a glaze. Add the double cream and reduce by half. Add the leeks and simmer for 10 mins, then stir in the thyme leaves, cheddar and season.

BACON AND EGGS WITH SAVORY SAUTEED LEEKS

Steps:

• Cook bacon until crisp, then crumble. Saute leeks in bacon fat until soft. Make 4 wells, break 2 eggs in each, and season. Cover and cook until just set, 5 minutes. Top with bacon and chives.