Turkish Braised Leeks Recipe (Zeytinyağlı Pırasa)
This Turkish leek recipe is delicious and easy to make. Leeks are braised with olive oil and then topped with a garlicky yogurt sauce, resulting in a delicious, wholesome meal ready in no time.
Servings: 4
Calories: 239kcal
Ingredients
- 2 large leeks
- ¼ cup olive oil divided
- 1 large onion sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Yogurt sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp Aleppo pepper
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 clove garlic finely minced
Instructions
- Since we only need the white and light green of the leeks, slice and discard the dark green parts. Slice the leek in half lengthwise and wash thoroughly under running cold water to get rid of all the dirt that might be between the layers. Let it dry for a few minutes, then slice them thinly into halfmoons and set aside.
- Heat half of the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Saute the onion until translucent. Add in the leek and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes until the leek starts to soften.
- Add in the tomato paste, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup of water and bring to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and add the remaining olive oil to the pan and give it a good stir. Turn the heat off and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- In a bowl mix the yogurt with the salt and garlic and set aside. Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add in the Aleppo pepper and cook for a minute or two.
- Transfer the braised leeks to a serving platter and top with the garlicky yogurt and spices olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Video
Notes
- Leeks tend to have a lot of dirt between all the layers so make sure they're washed completely.
- Serve braised leeks as a main vegetarian course with some bread such as pita or Turkish pide or as a side dish with roasted chicken and vegetables or baked cod.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 950mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 1mg