Pleasant, delicate sweet flavored leeks are cylindrical leafy stalks obtained from the onion-family plant, in the Allium genus. They are biennial, tall, slender herbs with a long cylindrical stem composed of concentric layers of overlapping leaves. They commonly employed as vegetables in stir-fries in many parts of Asia, Europe, and America.
Scientific name: Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum.
Nutritional Content of Leeks
100 grams of leeks contain about 83g of water, 1g of protein, and 2g of dietary fiber. Leeks are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, Iron, Calcium, Magnesium and Manganese.
Health Benefits Of Leeks
1. Detoxifies Your Skin
2. Sun Protection
3. Promotes Hair Growth
4. Protects Blood Vessels
5. Bone Health
6. Good For The Heart
7. Reduces the Risk Of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases
8. Aids Digestion
9. May Prevent Cancer
10. Promotes Weight Loss
11. Improves Vision
12. Beneficial During Pregnancy
13. Maintains Healthy Cholesterol
14. Acts As An Antioxidant
15. Aphrodisiac
16. Balsamic Action
17. Nervous System
Leeks impart mellow, sweet onion-flavor to the dishes they added to. They exude less pungency than garlic or onions. Although used sparingly outside the European continent, their delicate stems have recently found favor among Far-East Asian and Mediterranean cuisine.