Poireaux Vinaigrette
Tender leeks dressed warm in a sharp mustard vinaigrette.
Ingredients
- 6 Leek
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Parsley (optional)
Method
- Trim the leeks and wash them well to remove any grit.
- Simmer the leeks in a pan of salted water until tender when pierced.
- Drain the leeks and press them gently to remove excess water.
- Whisk the mustard, red wine vinegar, and olive oil into a sharp vinaigrette.
- Dress the warm leeks with the vinaigrette and scatter parsley over the top.
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About Poireaux Vinaigrette
Poireaux vinaigrette is a cornerstone of French bistro cooking, a simple starter of poached leeks dressed while still warm in a sharp mustard vinaigrette. The whole dish hinges on cooking the leeks until they are meltingly tender and then pressing out the excess water so the dressing clings rather than dilutes. The vinaigrette itself is bracing — Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, and olive oil whisked into an emulsion — and dressing the leeks warm lets them drink in the flavor as they cool. A scatter of parsley is the only garnish it needs.
The result is silky, savory, and pleasantly tart, the natural sweetness of the leeks set against the mustard's bite and the vinegar's edge. It is light and clean, the kind of cold-plate first course the French turn to before a richer main, and it holds up well made ahead since the leeks only improve as they sit in the dressing. Naturally vegan and low in calories, it makes an elegant starter or a light lunch alongside good bread. The defining touch is that warm dressing step, which is the difference between leeks that merely sit in vinaigrette and leeks that have absorbed it.
Poireaux Vinaigrette: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Poireaux Vinaigrette?
A serving has about 211 calories — 2.4g protein, 19.9g carbs, 14.4g fat, 2.8g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Poireaux Vinaigrette gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Poireaux Vinaigrette has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Poireaux Vinaigrette take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 11 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Poireaux Vinaigrette?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out parsley — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Poireaux Vinaigrette make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.