Leeks With Creamy Tahini And Blood Orange Juice (Plant-based)
Craving a burst of vibrant flavor in minutes? This leeks recipe with creamy Tahini and blood orange juice is your answer and it takes only 20 minutes from start to finish.
In this easy vegan recipe, sautéed leeks meet creamy tahini and the bright, zesty zing of blood orange. Another recipe plant-based and gluten-free that I love so much. This delicious dish offers a satisfying crunch from the toasted seeds and a refreshing twist thanks to the mint leaves. Nourishing and delightful !
Page summary here!
Why you will adore this recipe
- Plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free: It is packed with tasty and healthy ingredients only.
- Easy to make: An ideal quick lunch or a vibrant side for dinner ready in minutes.
- 3-ingredients recipe: Leeks, Tahini and blood orange. And I love adding toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh mint leaves for extra texture and flavor, but you can always tailor it to your taste!
Leeks recipe ingredients (with creamy Tahini and blood orange juice)
- Tahini: It is healthy fats, calcium, and protein and it adds a creamy and nutty texture. Tahini is from the Middle-Eastern region and so tasty I can’t live without it.
- Leeks: Well known to help the digestive system, leeks have vitamin A, C, K and fiber. And right now they are in season.
- Virgin Olive oil: Enhancing this recipe’s overall flavor.
- Pumpkin seeds: Toasted, they add a fantastic taste and they are loaded with magnesium and zinc.
- Mint: For a bright and cooling flavor, that helps the digestion.
- Juice of 1 blood orange: Using them as they are in season, it adds a vibrant, tangy sweetness to this delicious leeks dish (along with vitamin C).
How to make this delicious leeks recipe (entirely plant-based)
STEP 1 – Leeks
Remove the leeks’ dark green tops (and save them for soup or pesto).
Wash thoroughly the leeks. First, cut the leeks in half crosswise. Then, take each half and slice it lengthwise.
Place the leek pieces in a large pan and drizzle with olive oil. Sauté for about 5 minutes, then flip the leeks and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until they’re tender and beautifully browned.
STEP 2 – Pumpkin seeds
In a separate dry pan (no oil needed!), toast the pumpkin seeds over medium heat until they pop.
STEP 3 – Decorate your plates
Drizzle 2 plates with Tahini, using a spoon to create swirls or lines. Arrange the sauteed leeks. Sprinkle generously with the toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh mint leaves. Slice a blood orange in half, and squeeze the juice of one half over each plate. Finally, add salt and pepper to taste.
Recipe variations
Customize this delicious leeks dish with creamy tahini and blood orange juice :
Protein: add some fresh cubed tofu on top or marinated tofu on the side. Or any other protein you prefer!
Spice it up: add cayenne pepper or fresh chili on top.
Healthy fat: add one avocado sliced on the side.
How to meal prep this dish
I recommend to keep toasted pumpkin seeds ready in your pantry. It’s a fantastic time-saver, and you’ll avoid the extra step (and cost) of toasting them each time.
For the leeks, you can wash and cut them ahead of time. Simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make this recipe.
Top tip about a thick (and stubborn) Tahini paste
Ever have tahini that’s just too thick? It happens here in Bahrain all the time!
I find the easiest way to make it runny is to pop it in a small blender. Just blend it until it’s smooth and creamy (incorporating any oil that was separated in the jar). Then I place it back in the glass jar. Et voila !
Recipe FAQ
Can I swap the leeks?
Of course, you could go for cabbage steaks or cauliflower steaks that you will roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until brown.
What if I don’t like Tahini?
Replace it by peanut butter or almond butter and mix it with soya sauce.
What other herbs or seeds would you recommend for this leeks recipe?
Leeks go very well with mint or parsley and basil. Feel free to add whatever you have handy. I used pumpkin seeds, but you can easily go for sunflower seeds, sesame seeds or even roasted cashew nuts.
Try these quick plant recipes next
Healthy leeks with creamy tahini and blood orange juice and…
Sweet, creamy, tangy, so quick !
– Healthy greetings from Laetitia –
Leeks With Creamy Tahini And Blood Orange Juice
Ingredients
- 3 leeks
- 2-3 tbsp Tahini
- ⅓ cup pumpkin seeds
- 10-12 fresh mint leaves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 blood orange
Instructions
- Reserving the dark green of the leeks (for soup or pesto), wash the leeks. Then, cut the leeks in half crosswise. Now, take each half and slice it lengthwise.
- Place the leek pieces in a large pan, add fresh black pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Sauté over medium heat for about 5 minutes, then flip the leeks and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until browned.
- In the meantime, in a separate dry pan, toast the pumpkin seeds over medium heat.
- Wash 10-12 mint leaves, dry and set aside.
- When the leeks are ready, on two plates, use a spoon to create Tahini swirls. Arrange the sautéed leeks on top of the tahini. Slice a blood orange in half, and squeeze the juice of one half over each plate. Sprinkle generously with the toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh mint leaves. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy!
