Easy Caramelized Leek Pasta
Caramelized Leek Pasta is a cozy, creamy dish made with tender leeks, lemony cream sauce, and crunchy pangrattato—comfort food with a fresh twist !
Ingredients
- 10 oz linguine or long pasta (gluten-free optional)
- 3 medium leeks, cleaned and sliced (white and light green parts)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or vegan butter)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
- 1¾ cups milk (dairy or plant-based like macadamia)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ⅓ cup grated Pecorino or Parmesan (or vegan cheese)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes and pangrattato for garnish
Instructions
- Clean and slice the leeks. Remove outer layers, trim the ends, and cut white parts into rounds. Cut green tops into long thin strips.
- Blanch green leek strips. Boil for 1 minute, then transfer to ice water. Set aside.
- Cook the pasta. In the same water, boil pasta until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.Caramelize leeks. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. Sauté white leek slices for 5 minutes, then add garlic. Cook another 15 minutes, stirring often, until golden and soft.
- Make the sauce. Push leeks aside in the pan. Add 2 tablespoons butter and flour, stirring to form a roux. Slowly whisk in milk, Dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer until smooth and creamy.
- Combine pasta. Add cooked pasta, reserved green leek strips, lemon juice, and a splash of pasta water. Toss everything together until well-coated.
- Garnish and serve. Top with cheese, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and pangrattato if using. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use long pasta like linguine or spaghetti to complement the shape of the green leek strips.
- Make it vegan: Use plant-based butter and milk, and vegan cheese.
- Add protein: Grilled chicken or shrimp work beautifully with this dish.
- Make pangrattato: Toast breadcrumbs with garlic, thyme, and lemon zest in olive oil for added crunch.