My Mum's Leek Gratin | A Family Tradition

This Leek Gratin is a family recipe, its something my Mum cooks every year on Christmas Day. Its creamy, with a crisp cheese top and silky on the inside.

The recipe comes together quick, isn't hard, and you can make it a day of two before to get ahead of the game for your Christmas meal.

[mycat-ry]

A really helpful video and no unnecessary chat or endless shots of preparation just the right amount of everything. Great recipe and yep I can see now why I mustn’t leave out the mustard. Thank you 👍

[judith]

I always make my sauce this way - but adding the cheese with the pan off the heat is a new one for me - I'll definitely try it. Thank you :)

[christianlinkert]

I’m 44 and Delia taught me to cook Christmas dinner! I literally screamed when you gave her a shout out!

[SerreNameless]

Cutting the leeks before washing is smart! I always spent a while cleaning while whole and it never felt efficient. Lovely, simple and delicious recipe!

[PattiWinker]

Your instructions are some of the best I’ve found online! And I binge watch A LOT of cooking videos. 😁👏

[sbpierce]

I use Jamie Oliver’s method for cleaning leeks - split them down their length, gentlly peel back each layer and rinse down towards the green end. It’s a matter of a few minutes rather than faffing about with rinses of water and boiling them. I steam them instead then they are cooked and not mushy and have better colour retention. I would also wait to add salt until after I’ve melted in the cheese. BTW, try out Canadian Old Cheddar. Much better than American.

[sallymb]

I'm glad you explained the orange Cheddar, thank you! First time watching a video of yours and I'm enjoying it.

[GPDuchess]

Leek'n'cheese, I'll definitely be making this😊

[JaneB]

I haven't long since discovered your channel....a lovely recipe.
Really like the way you give a clear narrative and explanation of what you're doing and why.
I'm in my 50s and developed a love of simple good English cooking by collecting Delia Smith books when I was much younger, loved how you gave her a mention.
Thankyou for sharing, this will be on my table Christmas day. 🎄

[WhiteBoxFarm]

Hello! Your videos are excellent! I am a home cook and have been cooking since my teens. I am so passionate about cooking good food that I grow the majority of my fruit and vegetables. I also raise F1 Wagyu. Your videos caught my attention because I wanted to see what your take was on making the best dishes possible. I will be making some of your recipes for Christmas and beyond. That being said, your content is so clear, concise and helpful. It is delivered in a calm manner which is a pleasure to listen to. The videography is excellent. I know your videos take a tremendous amount of time and effort and it is very much appreciated.

[MrMousley]

As you mentioned Delia, I will too.
I always make a white sauce using her 'just chuck the butter, flour and cold milk together into a saucepan' method.
As long as you warm it up slowly, stirring all the time, you never get lumps

[Higginsis]

I love this dish, I like to sweat the leeks down in some butter rather than boil them but either way it's a great combo, much prefer it to cauliflower cheese.

[cjohnson]

Holy cow, this looks good and I will be test running this one for supper next week. Thanks for posting and teaching

[dee]

I love how the cheese & sauce has created that gorgeous flavourful brown on top, similar to Welsh rarebit. Leeks are my favourite veg and pair so well with cheese.
I put my chopped leeks in a bowl too, agitate them and leave for awhile, then I place them in a big colander and rinse them thoroughly in the sink under a tap at high pressure whilst agitating them. I find this method also works well to get rid of the dirt and grit.

[subaru]

Wonderful! I think leeks are so overlooked as a vegetable, I love them. I will serve this with a pork roast, I think, and will look for a bit of real English cheddar for this recipe. As others have said, your video is a pleasure with the focus on the technique and the food. subscribed.

[michelnormandin]

Bonjour Ben. Love your content. Simple, efficient and no annoying stupid muzak.

[lizhood]

Thank you - I bought a bunch of leeks the other day and shall make this rather than soup, adding cooked chicken and sauteed mushrooms. I haven't had leeks au gratin for years! I have always made bechemal using a whisk and adding cold milk by degrees, but I don't let the milk warm - I'll try this. IMO, a whisk is foolproof, I've never had a problem with lumps.

[martamarta]

Muito bem explicado. Compreensível, mesmo sem tradução. Muito bom por poder preparar um dia antes. Vou tentar fazer.❤

[miriamepage]

Have the same recipe from my grandma but with cauliflower. When I want to make it a full meal, I add ham. Works fine with some other cheeses too to vary flavour. Bought aged cheddar and trying it with leek tonight.

[my-mysknitsaloon]

Yummy in my tummy. I'm gonna try make it with Västerbottens ost. Thanks for sharing.🤤🤍😋