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Leeks au gratin is a delicious way to prepare leeks. It's cheesy, creamy and crunchy, easy to make and really tasty.
Prep and cook the leeks
Heat your oven to 180°C (356°F) for a fan/convection oven, 200°C (392°F) conventional, gas 6. You want a rectangular metal/glass/ceramic/cast iron baking tray - mine is 18cm x 25cm (7" x 10"). Top and tail your leeks and give them a good rinse under cold water. If they are large, cut them in half so they'll fit across the short side of your baking dish/tray and then halve them lengthways. Line all the leeks up side by side and cover them with cream. Tightly cover the top with foil and place the tray into the oven to bake for 50 minutes.
Make the topping and finish baking
Mix together the breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, minced garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Melt the butter and mix that in too. Grate the cheeses. When the leeks are cooked, remove from the oven and sprinkle cheese all over the top. Spread the breadcrumb mixture over this and smooth it with a spatula. Put it under the grill/broiler for about 10 minutes until the crust is bubbling.