Leek-Allium porrum and Green Onions-Allium fistulosum,its extracts.
Article Content:
- .Leek Basic Info.
- .Green Onions Basic Info.
- .Leek Botanical Description.
- .Green Onion Botanical Description.
- .Leek Usage.
- .Green Onion Nutritional values.
- .Leek History.
- .Green Onion Cooking tips.
- .Research Update:Allium ampeloprasum;Allium porrum.
Leek Usage.
Leeks are important in French cuisine, especially in vichyssoise. Leeks can be eaten raw, sliced in salads, or cooked in leek and potato soup (recipe below). They are excellent braised with carrots and celery or sauteed in butter. Serve steamed leeks au gratin or with a creme sauce.
To remove grit, slit the leeks lengthwise and wash under cold water. Leek flowers are bold and striking in the garden and dominating in arrangements whether fresh or dried.
Features of Leek:
Some authorities place the onions, garlics, leeks and their relatives in a family of their own, the Alliaceae, and others put them in the lily family, the Liliaceae. There are about 400 species in the genus Allium, including many grown for ornamental as well as culinary and herbal uses. The species, Allium ampeloprasum, is divided into three horticultural groups: The Porrum Group includes the leeks, grown for their stems; the Ampeloprasum Group includes elephant garlic and levant garlic, grown for their large, mild garlic-like bulbs; and the Kurrat Group includes kurrat, a small plant grown for its leaves and rarely seen outside Egypt and the Middle East. Chinese leeks, or garlic chives, is A. tuberosum.
Leek and its Edible Uses:
Flowers; Leaves; Root.
The leaves and long white blanched stem are eaten cooked. They can also be cut into thin slices and be added to salads. A mild onion flavour with a delightful sweetness.
Bulb - raw or cooked. The bulb is produced in the plants second year of growth (that is, after it is normally harvested). The bulb is somewhat larger if the plant is prevented from flowering.
Flowers - raw. Used as a garnish on salads, though they are rather on the dry side and less pleasant than many other members of the genus.
Leek and its Medicinal Uses:Disclaimer
Anthelmintic; Antiasthmatic; Anticholesterolemic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Stimulant; Stings; Stomachic; Tonic; Vasodilator.
This species has the same medicinal virtues as garlic, but in a much milder and less effective form.
leek has a very long folk history of use in a wide range of ailments, particularly ailments such as ringworm, Candida and vaginitis where its fungicidal, antiseptic, tonic and parasiticidal properties have proved of benefit. It is also said to have anticancer activity. Daily use of garlic in the diet has been shown to have a very beneficial effect on the body, especially the blood system and the heart. For example, demographic studies suggest that garlic is responsible for the low incidence of arteriosclerosis in areas of Italy and Spain where consumption of the bulb is heavy.
The bulb is said to be anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vasodilator. The crushed bulb may be applied as a poultice to ease the pain of bites, stings etc
Leek and its Other Uses:
Repellent:The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.
Leek Cuisine:
Leeks are generally considered to have a finer flavor than the common onion. They are an essential ingredient of cock-a-leekie soup and of vichyssoise. They can also be used raw in salads, doing especially well when they are the prime ingredient.
Because of their symbolism in Wales (see below) they have come to be used extensively in that country's cuisine.
Storage: Keep in the refrigerator crisper. They have a tendency to go mouldy if too tightly sealed.
Head: Dull pain in forehead and temples (with the acute coryza), in open air.
Eyes: Acute inflammation with profuse burning lachrymation (which is not very excoriating).Pain as if the eyes hung loose on a string.Photophobia.
Nose: Acute coryza with violent sneezing (particularly on deep breathing), profuse, excoriating, watery discharge, with lachrymation and headache, > open air.
Throat: Catarrhal inflammation, with a sensation of constriction in the region of the epiglottis.Pain, sometimes extending to the ear.
Abdomen: Flatulence ; pain in hypogastric region, like a fine thread extending inward and upward.
Urinary organs: Urine profuse, red ; micturition frequent with burning.
Respiratory organs: Acute laryngitis with great hoarseness and pain on coughing as if the "lining" of the larynx would be torn out, or as if the larynx would split, with sudden lachrymation.
Extremities: Fine, thread-like pains, shooting (following amputations or injuries).Ulcers on the heel.
Fever: Flitting heat at intervals, irregular (associated with the acute catarrhal symptoms).
Reference:
1.Leek-Allium porrum and Green Onions-Allium fistulosum,its extracts.




