Inspirations
Explore the elevated life in the mountains. This content debuted in 2015 with Alpine Modern’s printed quarterly magazine project.
Recipe: Braised Leeks with Black Truffle
An elegantly simple vegetable side for any festive dinner
INGREDIENTS
leeks: 12 small, cleaned and trimmed black truffle butter: 8–10 oz (227 to 283 g) *or regular butter with high-fat content salt pepper red radish: 1
DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Also, prepare an ice bath. Remove the root end of the leek and trim the green leaves so roughly 6 inches (15 cm) of the leek is available. Then, cut in half lengthwise. Set aside. Place the leeks into the blanching water for approximately 6 minutes or until nearly tender. Remove from pot and place in the ice bath until cool to stop the cooking process.
In a large sauté pan on medium, heat a small amount of grape seed oil and gently arrange the cooked leeks so they fit in one layer. Once the leeks are hot and begin to sear slightly, place a piece of circular parchment paper on top of the leeks to help them cook evenly (see photo). Add the black truffle butter. Once the butter is melted, season with salt and pepper and serve, on the table, out of the sauté pan. Shave the red radish on a microplane and top the cooked leeks with it for added texture. Serves 10. △
This recipe is part of Alpine Modern's big Winter Feast, which we will publish here this week.