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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Turkish style braised leeks with olive oil and rice

Turkish style braised leeks are a vegetarian dish for 4 people, ready in 50 minutes, very easy to make, for €1.70 per person. Leeks and carrots simmer slowly under a lid with very little water, lemon and a touch of sugar, until soft and almost melting. The key is the slow, covered cooking that lets the vegetables braise in their own juice.

Leeks and carrots slowly braised in olive oil and lemon, a soft Turkish dish, served with a good pilaf rice.

Turkish style braised leeks with olive oil and rice
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.70
Calories per person
610 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall

This dish belongs to the Turkish zeytinyağlı family, vegetables cooked in olive oil and served warm or at room temperature. The leek loses its sharp edge as it cooks down, the carrot adds a natural sweetness, and the lemon keeps everything bright. The texture ends up soft and almost jammy, nothing like a quickly steamed leek.

It works well on a weeknight since it needs little attention once the lid is on, or for a slow Sunday lunch served warm with pilaf rice. It fits easily into a meatless meal, and it actually tastes just as good, if not better, reheated the next day.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Leeks 1 kg
  • Carrots 3
  • Onion 1
  • Lemon 1
  • Dill 1 bunch

Pantry

  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 8 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 20 g

The step by step recipe

  1. Wash the leeks, cut them into 3 cm pieces and slice the carrots thinly.

    Rinse them well, dirt hides between the leaves.

  2. Sauté the onion in the oil, then add the leeks and carrots. 8 min

    Stir often so they get well coated in oil.

  3. Add the sugar, salt, lemon juice and half a glass of water, cover.

    The sugar balances the leek's natural bitterness.

  4. Let it simmer over low heat until tender. 30 min

    It's ready when a knife slides through with no resistance.

  5. Cook the pilaf rice and serve with the leeks, topped with dill. 15 min

    Chop the dill at the last moment, it keeps its full aroma.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick thin leeks rather than thick ones, they cook more evenly and stay less fibrous.
  • Don't skip covering the pan, that's what lets the vegetables braise gently instead of catching on the bottom.
  • Taste before serving and add a splash more lemon if the dish feels too mellow, the acidity should still come through.

The variations

  • Swap the carrots for peas or fava beans depending on the season, the cooking method stays the same.
  • Stir in some cooked chickpeas while it simmers to turn this into a heartier, complete meal.
  • For a quicker version, cut the leeks thinner and shorten the simmering time to 20 minutes.

What to serve it with

  • Cold plain yogurt
  • Warm flatbread or pita
  • Black tea after the meal

Storage

Keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, the flavor actually improves overnight. Freezes well for up to 2 months without the rice. Reheat gently in a pan or saucepan with a splash of water.

Questions about this dish

Can you make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended. Make the leeks the day before and reheat gently before serving, the flavor deepens as it sits.

Is dill essential to this recipe?

Dill gives this dish its typical fresh note, but you can swap it for flat leaf parsley if you don't have any.

Can you freeze braised leeks with olive oil?

Yes, for up to 2 months in an airtight container, without the rice which doesn't freeze as well. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

Why does the recipe include sugar?

The sugar balances the slight natural bitterness of long cooked leeks. The amount is small, so the finished dish doesn't taste sweet.

How long does it take to make Turkish style braised leeks with olive oil, served with rice?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in Turkish style braised leeks with olive oil, served with rice?

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 Turkish style braised leeks with olive oil, served with rice cost?

About €1.70 per serving, or €6.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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