All About The Veg: Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta

All About the Veg! is a bi-weekly recipe column in which Best of Vegan contributor Seiran Sinjari breaks down one amazing plant at a time. In todayโ€™s column, she’s getting to know leeks a little bit closer and invites you to join in on the fun. Her recipe for Leeks & Potato Gratin is a next-level cozy fall meal!

All About The Veg: Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta

Temperatures are dropping and itโ€™s the perfect time for cozy soups, stews, and veggie bakes. Leek is a fantastic ingredient that will elevate all these cozy fall meals. Itโ€™s not as sharp in flavor as onions but still adds lots of unique flavor and sweetness. Since itโ€™s very mild you can use a lot of it in your cooking and even make it the main ingredient!

All About The Veg: Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta

I love charring them or slowly braising them but you can prepare them in so many other delicious ways too. A classic way to pair them is with potatoes in soup or gratin/scalloped potatoes. So thatโ€™s actually what weโ€™re doing for this weekโ€™s recipe. Weโ€™re using lots of leeks and weโ€™ll make it a little bit more fun and add some toasted aromatics and vegan feta. The savory and slightly tart vegan feta is a perfect contrast to the sweet leeks and creamy potatoes.

All About The Veg: Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta
All About The Veg: Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta

Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta

5 from 2 votes
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Author: Seiran Sinjari | Legally Plant Based

Ingredients

  • 1 kg 2.2 lbs slightly waxy potatoes, thinly sliced with mandolin (with or without skin)
  • 2 leeks - both white and green parts, trimmed, cleaned and thinly sliced (cut lengthwise and soak in water to clean, then slice)
  • 2-3 garlic cloves - minced
  • 500 ml vegan cooking cream / heavy cream
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 75 g vegan feta cheese - crumbled (use a vegan feta that holds well when heated, can be substituted with grated vegan cheese)
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

For toasted aromatics oil:

  • ยฝ tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 200ยบC / 400ยบF.
  • In a bowl, mix cream, garlic, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and set to the side.
  • Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over medium heat, add the leeks, and season with salt and pepper. Stir occasionally and let cook until all liquid has evaporated. Spread them out evenly and continue to cook and stir occasionally until some pieces start to turn slightly golden brown. Remove from heat.
  • Season the potatoes with salt and pepper and combine well.ย 
  • Grease a round 25-28 cm (10-11โ€) oven-safe pan with butter. Place half of the potatoes in the pan in an even layer, spread โ…” of the leeks evenly on top then drizzle with half of the cream. Add the remaining potatoes on top, spread out evenly, or arrange in a spiral shape. Place the remaining leeks on top, mostly in the center then pour the remaining cream on top.ย 
  • Cover the pan with an oven safe lid and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Place coriander seeds, mustard seeds, and fennel seeds in a dry pan over medium heat. Stir frequently (or shake the pan) until some of the seeds start popping, remove from the pan and grind the seeds with mortar and pestle.
  • In a small bowl, combine the ground spices with 2 tbsp olive oil and set to the side.
  • Remove the pan from the oven after 30 minutes, sprinkle the vegan feta cheese on top, and drizzle โ…” of the aromatics oil on top. Return the pan to the oven and continue to bake for 20-30 minutes (or until potatoes are tender and cooked through) uncovered.
  • Sprinkle the gratin with parsley and drizzle with remaining oil before serving.

Notes

Find more of Seiranโ€™s recipes at @legallyplantbased.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Recipe, text, and photography by Seiran Sinjari.

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All About The Veg: Leeks & Potato Gratin with Toasted Aromatics & Vegan Feta

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https://bestofvegan.com/vegan-japanese-macaroni-gratin/

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6 Comments

  1. Seconding Anna’s question. What kind of vegan heavy cream? Can I use coconut cream? Thank you

  2. 5 stars
    This is absolutely delicious!! I made it for Thanksgiving a couple years ago and everyone loved it, especially my sister who still remember how delectable it was. I made the cream with soaked cashews. So glad I could find it again.. Thanks โค๏ธ

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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