Leeks are super popular here in Germany. I see them in almost everyone’s basket at the grocery store. To be honest, I had never cooked with them before making this soup. With how popular they are here, I just had to see what the hype was all about, so I started looking up recipes that call for leeks. I decided to start with something simple like this Potato Leek Soup, but I am excited to try more recipes.
Leeks are part of the onion family and add a nice subtle onion flavor to whatever they are used in. The top part of the leek is a little tougher so, in most recipes, it is suggested to only use the white and light green parts of the leek.
I wanted to layer flavors in this soup, so I also used a regular yellow onion and some garlic. I think you will love the final result.
Traditionally, Potato Leek Soup is pureed. This is very easy to do if you have an immersion blender. It can also be done in a regular blender, but you need to be very careful when transferring the hot soup. Also, when blending, make sure the blender is able to vent the hot air or you could end up blowing the lid off and having hot soup everywhere. I have also heard of people having trouble with hot soups causing the seal on the bottom of their blender to not work as well, so be careful friends!
I recommend using an immersion blender. If you don’t have one, it might be time to treat yourself to one. You can find them pretty cheap on Amazon. Another option would be to just leave the soup as is with the chunks of potato and leeks. It would still taste delicious. I can’t wait for you to try this easy, creamy soup. It’s so yummy!
More Delicious Soups
- Sausage and Sweet Potato Tortellini Soup
- Chicken and Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
- Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Olive Garden Pasta Faggioli Soup
- Hearty Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Thick and Creamy Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
Step-by-step pictures for how to make Potato Leek Soup
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Potato Leek Soup
Does it matter what variety of potato I use?
The variety of potato in this soup does not matter. I suggest russet, white, or golden.
How many leeks will I need for this recipe?
I suggest 3 or 4 leeks for this recipe.
Do I have to add Heavy Cream or is there another Dairy-Free Option?
I am not familiar with dairy-free options for replacing heavy cream. I know sometimes people use coconut cream, but in this case, it may really alter the flavor. Also, this recipe uses butter, so if you want to make it dairy-free, you will need to use vegan butter in its place.
Is Potato Leek Soup Gluten-Free?
This recipe for Potato Leek Soup uses all-purpose flour for the thickening agent. In order to make the soup gluten-free, you will need to use a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch as the thickener.
If I don’t have leeks can I use extra onion instead?
Yes, technically this soup could still work as a yummy potato soup by subbing regular onions for the leeks.
What is a leek and what does it taste like?
A leek is a member of the onion family. Leeks taste like a mild version of an onion. Leeks have the same base flavor but far less intensity. They are delicate and sweeter than other members of the onion family. Traditionally, the white part and light green middle are eaten, while the green tops are discarded.
Serve with...
- ½ cup butter
- 3-4 large leeks, sliced into ¼-1/2 inch pieces (Use the white and light green parts, discard the green tops.)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2-3 lbs potatoes, peeled and cubed into ½-inch pieces
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 8 cups water and 6 tsp chicken or vegetable bouillon (or low sodium chicken or veggie stock)
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup heavy cream
- In a large soup pot, sauté the leeks, onion, and garlic in the butter until the leeks are tender.
- Add the potatoes, salt, pepper, and thyme. Sauté for another minute or two.
- Add the flour and stir constantly to ensure the flour is dispersed evenly and coating everything.
- Next, add the water and bullion (or stock) and stir vigorously and constantly for about a minute or until the flour is diluted through the broth.
- Add the bay leaf.
- Bring soup to a boil, stirring regularly. Allow to boil for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove the bay leaf and use an immersion blender to puree the soup. This can also be done in a regular blender, but see warnings in the post. You can also choose to leave soup the way it is, or use a potato masher to partially puree it.
- At this point, stir in the heavy cream. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Enjoy!
Reader Favorites
Leave a Comment