Leeks With Olives and Feta

bluemoon downunder's Note:

A highly flavoursome low calorie vegetable dish which is ideal for a Greek-style meal, served with other salads, warm pita bread or warm crusty bread and an assortment of dips. A great dish if you love leeks! This recipe has been adapted from an International Master '1001 recipes for pan or wok' card and has been posted for the 2005 Zaar World Tour. I use my Vegetable Stock when making this recipe. The preparation and cooking times below do not include the time needed for cooling and chilling.

• Total Time: 22 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 roma tomatoes
• 8 leeks
• 4 garlic cloves
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 150 ml vegetable stock
• salt, to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon caster sugar
• 50 g kalamata olives, pitted
• 100 g feta cheese
• 1 sprig fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish
• 1/2 lemon, cut in wedges to garnish

Directions:

1. Cut crosses in the tops of the tomatoes, then put them in a bowl, cover and soak for 1 minute in boiling water, drain and rinse in cold water, then remove skins roughly chop.
2. Trim the leeks, wash thoroughly and pat the leaves dry with paper towelling, then cut into 2.5cm (1 inch) pieces. I find using the kitchen scissors is the quickest and easiest way to do this.
3. Peel and crush the garlic, heat the oil in a pan or wok, preferably non-stick, and sauté the tomatoes and garlic for 2-3 minutes; then stir in the lemon juice, the leeks and the 150ml (5 fluid ounces) of vegetable stock and bring to the boil.
4. Season the leek mixture and stir in the sugar, cover with a lid or foil and cook for 5 minutes, then remove the lid, give the leek mixture a stir and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the leeks are just tender and the liquid has evaporated.
5. Transfer the leek mixture to a bowl, stir in the olives, cool it completely, then chill for 30 minutes. Crumble the feta, then stir it into the leek mixture. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges and serve.
6. A fascinating fact about olive trees: Olive trees are extremely long-lived. The famous olive tree under which Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher sat in Athens is still growing! Two and a half thousand years later!

Reviews

[604 Center]

I don't like olives, so I didn't like this immediately. Hubby loved it. So I gave it three stars.

[wicked cook 46]

This was delish. I cut the recipe more then in half since it is just the two of us ( used two huge leeks and think the whole recipe would serve more then the 4 stated. I served it with fresh made pitas Pita Bread, tsatziki Tsatziki Sauce and souvakia recipe #186993 I put it in the freezer for a quick chill . Keeper for this familyMade for 1,2,3 Hit Wonders March 2009

[Susiecat too]

This is a delicious combination. I served it along with whole wheat flatbreads, hummus, chopped tomato salad, and broiled salmon. I could also imagine adding eggplant to this mixture. Thanks for a delicious dish, bluemoon!