Grilled leeks with pine nut salsa

Name: Grilled leeks with pine nut salsa
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4

Starter Serves 4 20 min

It is best to use summer leeks here because you want small, mild ones; winter leeks often have a stronger flavour which along with the salsa may too powerful. This is a good accompaniment to chicken.

Cook's notes

The best way of washing a leek is to split it lengthwise in half, pushing a knife in just above the base and working up so the two halves remain attached at the base but are then easy to wash under a running tap.

Ingredients

1 tbsp lightly toasted pine nuts
½ red onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 hardboiled egg, finely chopped
½ tbsp tarragon, chopped
½ tbsp parsley, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp good wine vinegar
4 leeks
salt and pepper

Method

Prep time: 10 min

Cooking time: 10 min

Step 1
Mix together all the ingredients, except the leeks, for the pine nut salsa.
Step 2
Blanch the leeks in boiling salted water for 2 minutes, then drain and refresh in cold water.
Step 3
Drain well, split in half length-ways, brush lightly with oil and sear on a hot griddle pan. Serve with the salsa.