Introducing you to delicious instant pot steamed leeks. An incredibly easy vegetable to pressure cook and perfect for being the vegetable hero alongside your other favourite instant pot recipes.
Whether you are steaming one leek or six, my way is fast, its delicious and its on the dinner table in less than 5 minutes from now.
These instant pot leeks were originally shared in 2018, and today we have made them even better for you.
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Steamed Leeks
When I think of a favourite vegetable to cook for dinner, I’m sad to say that leeks are never top of the list.
I am thinking about instant pot steamed broccoli, instant pot buttered cabbage, or doing a medley of instant pot frozen vegetables.
Then I make steamed leeks in the instant pot and I get angry with myself that I don’t cook leeks more often.
After all instant pot steamed leeks taste amazing, they are fast, they are easy and they go with pretty much ever main dish you could possibly think of cooking.
Now when I go to the fruit and vegetable stall at the market, I am asking for the leeks just so that I can cook them at home in the instant pot.
Today I will be sharing with you how to steam leeks in the instant pot, along with a few tips and tricks.
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Can You Steam Leeks?
Yes, you sure can steam leeks. Leeks like many root vegetables steam perfectly. Though unlike instant pot carrots, leeks are a fast cooking root vegetable.
You can slice fresh leeks and load them into your steamer basket and they will come out perfectly.
I have also steamed leeks in the microwave for using in my air fryer breakfast casserole and its so fast.
Do You Have To Soak Leeks Before Cooking?
No, there is no need to soak leeks before cooking. The only time I soak leeks is just because I want to make ahead my leeks and forget about them.
I will then cut the leeks for steaming, and then load them in the fridge in some water and then get them out when I am ready to cook them.
How Do You Cut Leeks For Steaming?
The best way to cut leeks for steaming, is to remove the root and then slice them into medium slices.
Then load the leeks into a sieve and rinse them under a tap.
This will remove any gritty bits from the leeks as they are known for being gritty and it can taste awful if you get some of the soil bits into your mouth.
You can then steam your leeks in the instant pot straight away, or save them for later.
Why Steam Leeks?
I often get asked whether or not you should steam leeks. After all, leeks are very fast cooking and what is the point?
Well, just like any other vegetable you pressure cook, it’s a simple way to cook leeks and to keep the flavour.
When you boil leeks, they lose their taste and nutritional value, but pressure cook leeks and you keep the taste and nutrients.
Plus, its also a great starting point for cheesy leeks!
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Ingredients For Steamed Leeks
Leeks – As mentioned above, you can cook one leek, or you can cook six. Once sliced leeks don’t take up much room in the steamer basket, so you can cook a lot at once. Though for us we are often steaming leeks for 2 people and will do 2 large leeks only.
Stock – For the perfect flavour to your steamed leeks, I recommend you use stock and not just water in the instant pot. You can keep it vegetarian with vegetable stock or use chicken stock as a replacement. Or why not try our instant pot vegetable stock?
Butter – Just like with instant pot cabbage, I recommend adding a little butter as it gives such a wonderful taste to your leeks. If you are on WW I recommend a teaspoon of I Can’t Believe Its Not Butter Light spread as its 0 points.
Seasonings – Then for your seasoning, I recommend keeping it simple with salt, pepper, and parsley.
Then for the kitchen gadgets that we have used in this instant pot leeks it has just been our Instant Pot. We have this one and its my favourite and great for a quick steamed vegetables.
As well as this, we recommend a good steamer basket that fits into your instant pot (we have this one) and then it expands and you can use it for any pressure cooker steaming recipes.
Plus, we recommend you head over to our instant pot recipes category as we have many electric pressure cooker recipes and have been using instant pots for 5 years.
How To Steam Leeks?
- Prep. Remove the root end and then slice your leeks into medium slices.
- Rinse. Next rinse your leeks in a sieve over a cold tap and get rid of any gritty bits leftover from the ground.
- Load. Place stock into the bottom of your instant pot, then add the steamer basket, then add your leeks. Add seasoning and butter to the top of your leeks.
- Cook. Pressure cook, then remove the steamer and the leeks and serve.
And I am sure you can see now how easy it is to pressure cook leeks and why it has become one of my favourite simple veggies.
How Long To Steam Leeks?
Steamed leeks cooking time is JUST 1 minute pressure cook time with a quick pressure release.
Though I do like my leeks a little mushy, so if you want your leeks firm I would recommend opting for a zero minute pressure cook.
Can I Freeze Leeks?
Yes, you can freeze leeks. Though if you are freezing leeks, I recommend making sure they are cool first, and then placing them into a Ziploc bag.
Then what you can do is get your hand in the bag and get only the leeks you need and you can cook your leeks from frozen.
Steamed Leeks Tips & Tricks
- Transform your instant pot steamed leeks into cheesy leeks. They are the best and it’s so easy!
- Don’t skip the step of washing the leeks. There is nothing worse than gritty leeks at the dinner table.
- The butter is optional, but it certainly gives it the wow factor.
Interesting Instant Pot Trick – Make our instant pot veggie stock and freeze it into cubes. You can then add these frozen cubes to the instant pot. As the instant pot goes to pressure, it will defrost them for you, giving you a fantastic flavoursome recipe.
More Easy Instant Pot Veggies
- Instant Pot Frozen Broccoli
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash
- Instant Pot Cauliflower
- Instant Pot Beets
- Instant Pot Asparagus
Your instant pot leeks recipe is below, note you can print it out with or without photos, adjust servings, or click between metric and imperial depending on where you are in the world.
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Instant Pot Steamed Leeks
Ingredients
- 2 Large Leeks
- 240 ml Vegetable Stock
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp Parsley
- Salt & Pepper
Kitchen Gadgets:
Instructions
- Slice your leeks into medium slices and then wash your leeks.
- Add 240ml of vegetable stock and load steamer basket into your instant pot inner pot.
- Add the leeks to the steamer basket and sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley. Add a little butter or margarine to the top.
- Place the lid on your instant pot pressure cooker, set the valve to sealing and cook for 1 minute with a quick pressure release.
- After releasing pressure, remove the steamer basket and serve your leeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Can’t make it now? Then save it for later!
Easy to follow directions, very simple prep and absolutely delicious. I received the leeks in my CSA share and usually add them to something else. I decided to try them steamed on their own and just seasoned them afterwards, they were excellent. I may actually purchase leeks on purpose.