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Vegetarian, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Gratinéed leek and Comté toasts with salad

Gratinéed leek and Comté toasts are slices of country bread topped with leeks simmered in cream and melted Comté cheese, served with a green salad. This recipe serves 4, takes 35 minutes, is very easy, and costs €1.50 per person. The trick is toasting the bread first so it stays crisp under the topping.

Tonight, big gratinéed toasts with leeks and Comté, crispy underneath, melty on top.

Gratinéed leek and Comté toasts with salad
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.50
Calories per person
610 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Under the golden Comté, the creamy leeks stay soft while the toasted bread holds its crunch underneath. It's a simple dish with real character, somewhere between a cheesy gratin and the mild sweetness of leeks, with a pinch of nutmeg that wakes everything up.

This is the kind of weeknight dinner you make when there's leftover leeks and a chunk of Comté in the fridge. Kids tend to like it cut in half, easier to hold, and adults enjoy it just as much with the salad on the side for a bit of freshness.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • Country bread 8 slices

Fruits and vegetables

  • Leeks 700 g
  • Green salad 1

Dairy

  • Grated Comté 150 g
  • Thick crème fraîche 4 tbsp
  • Butter 30 g

Pantry

  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Wine vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Mustardoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Mustard

The step by step recipe

  1. Wash and slice the leeks, then cook them in the butter, covered, until soft. 15 min

    Stir occasionally and add a splash of water if they start to stick.

  2. Add the cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, and let it reduce briefly. 3 min

    The mixture should be thick, otherwise it will make the bread soggy.

  3. Toast the bread on a baking sheet in the oven for a few minutes. 3 min

    Flip the slices halfway through.

  4. Top each slice with leeks, cover with Comté, and broil until melted. 8 min

    Young Comté melts better than a very aged one.

  5. Dress the salad with the oil, vinegar, and mustard, and serve with the toasts.

    Cut the toasts in half for little ones, easier to pick up.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the leeks well after cooking if you see liquid at the bottom of the pan, so the toast doesn't turn soggy.
  • Pick a fairly firm, not too thick country bread, it holds up better under the broiler than a soft baguette.
  • Run the toasts under the broiler for a few extra seconds at the end if you want the Comté nicely browned in spots.

The variations

  • Swap the Comté for Emmental or Gruyère, both melt just as well and keep a mild flavor.
  • For a richer version, add a handful of browned bacon bits to the pan with the leeks.
  • To save time, toast the bread while the leeks cook, that shaves off almost ten minutes.

What to serve it with

  • A well seasoned green salad
  • A bowl of vegetable soup to start
  • A glass of sparkling apple juice

Storage

The creamed leeks keep for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container, just reheat gently before topping fresh bread. Once gratinéed, the toasts are best eaten right away, since they lose their crispness as they sit.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the leeks ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the creamed leeks the day before and keep them in the fridge. Just reheat gently before topping the bread and broiling.

Can you freeze the gratinéed toasts?

The creamed leeks freeze well on their own, but already gratinéed toasts lose their texture once thawed. It's better to freeze the filling and assemble the toasts at the last minute.

What bread works best for a crispy toast?

A firm, not too thick country bread works better than a soft baguette. Toasting it first, as the recipe tip suggests, really changes the texture.

Can you substitute the thick crème fraîche?

You can use thin crème fraîche or heavy cream instead, just let it reduce a bit longer to get the same thick consistency. A bit of cream cheese also works in a pinch.

How long does it take to make gratinéed leek and Comté toasts with a side salad?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in gratinéed leek and Comté toasts with a side salad?

About 610 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does gratinéed leek and Comté toasts with a side salad cost?

About €1.50 per serving, or €6.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, mustard. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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