Leek

Leek or pearl leek is a biennial herbaceous plant of the Onion subfamily. The birthplace of culture is Asia, from where it came to the Mediterranean. Interestingly, since ancient times, the leek was one of the most important vegetable plants in ancient Egypt. It was also cultivated in ancient times in Rome, Greece. At the same time, in the Middle Ages, it spread throughout Europe. Currently, leeks are grown everywhere. The largest plantations of the plant are concentrated in Western Europe, in particular, in France.

A distinctive feature of the culture is a high content of phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, carotene, ascorbic and nicotinic acids. Vegetable shows a diuretic effect, is useful for gout, rheumatism, scurvy, obesity, urolithiasis and fatigue (physical and psychological).

Botanical description

The plant reaches 0,4-0,9 m tall. In the first year of life, a culture forms a powerful root system. The leaves are flat, long (0,4-0,6 m), greenish-blue, fan-shaped. The flowers are small, form an umbrella, whitish or pink. The bulb is elongated, with a diameter of 0,02-0,08 m and a length of 0,1-0,12 m. The white basal part of the plant is eaten. Propagated by seeds that remain viable for up to 2-4 years.

Currently 3 varieties are cultivated: leek winter, autumn and summer. The collection season is in April-May and September-December.

Pearl onions – cold-resistant culture, prefers abundant watering (without waterlogging), high-humus floodplain or loamy soil.

Types

In terms of popularity, leek is second only to its counterpart, leaving behind other varieties of the onion family. Differs in high productivity and sweet, gentle taste.

Types of leek for maturity:

1. Summer. It includes early ripe varieties. This is the most productive species. Summer leek ripening occurs within 90-140 days. The diameter of the leg is 4 cm, and the weight of one copy is equal to 0,3 kg. Leaves thin, light green color. Crop begin to harvest when the clarified part of the stem reaches 0,4 m in length. Early products are used for processing or summer consumption.

To early ripening varieties include leeches Columbus, Vesta, Elephant’s Trunk, White Fang, Goliath.

2. Autumn. Ripening terms – 150-160 days. The leg is thin, reaches 2 cm in diameter, the weight of the plant is 0,2 kg. Mid-season species have large, darker leaves than early-ripening ones.

The most popular autumn varieties: leek Casimir, Winner, Elephant, Good fellow, Kilim, Tango.

3. Winter. Ripens more than 6 months. The leaves are dark with a characteristic bluish wax bloom. Leg thinner than the autumn and summer varieties, does not exceed 2 cm in diameter. They are characterized by high cold resistance and thickened bleached part.

For winter varieties include: Alligator leek, Karantansky, Bandit, Autumn giant, Mercury.

Early ripe varieties grow rapidly, have a high aerial part (up to 1,5 m), and are not winter-hardy. The harvest period is from August to early September. Mid-season varieties have powerful leaves that are densely located on a false stem. Mature plants are able to tolerate a decrease in ambient temperature to minus 15 degrees. Ripens in early October. Late-ripening varieties are characterized by a short stem (0,14 m), slow development, and a very dense arrangement of leaves on the stem. Cold resistant. In the southern regions, the harvest is from November to April.

Due to the long growing season, winter varieties are not grown in northern latitudes. Summer and autumn species are cultivated in the middle lane.

Chemical composition

Leek is a dietary food product that is characterized by a high content of ascorbic acid and potassium salts. 100 grams of the product contains 36 calories.

The mono- and disaccharides that make up leeks are mainly represented by glucose (4%), fiber (8,8%), pectins (10%). In addition, the culture contains phytosterols, most of which are beta-sitosterol (10,5%), purine bases, linolenic, linoleic, oleic unsaturated fatty acids and phytoncides. The latter, in turn, block the propagation of pathogenic fungi and bacteria.

On guard of health

Effect on the digestive system

Pearl onion has a stimulating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, improves digestion and appetite, eliminates dysbacteriosis, but at the same time irritates the walls of the stomach. Leek is digested very gently, does not cause gas formation in the intestines. It exhibits mild laxative and diuretic properties, ensures a normal outflow of bile, preventing the appearance of diseases of the liver and gallbladder. The vegetable helps to remove the unprocessed part of food, toxins and toxins from the body.

Impact on the immune system

Onions help fight hypovitaminosis, the symptoms of which are especially acute in winter and spring. The largest amount of nutrients is concentrated in the film covering the vegetable. Leek stops inflammation in the body (when eaten) and heals scratches, wounds on the skin (when applied externally). It strengthens the immune, nervous and skeletal systems. Fights acute respiratory diseases, colds, coughs, rhinitis. Effective for muscle fatigue, general depression and depression. Restores the body after exhausting sports.

At present, the anticarcinogenic activity of leeks has been proven.

Effect on the cardiovascular system (CCC)

The vegetable contains iron, which helps the synthesis of hemoglobin, prevents the development of iron deficiency anemia, varicose veins. Leek has a cleansing effect on the blood, lowers cholesterol, resists atherosclerosis.

Effect on the eyes

The composition of the vegetable includes zeoxanthin, lutein and carotene. These substances support good vision, help slow down the development of age-related changes in the eyes.

Cosmetic properties

Leek has the following cosmetic properties:

• accelerates hair growth (when rubbed into the scalp);
• eliminates undesirable pigmentation on the face, soothes irritated skin after sunburn, prevents the formation of blisters, relieves redness, strengthens nails (masks based on onion stalks pounded into a homogeneous mass);
• treats corns (attach baked onions to the problem area).

Regular use of raw leek helps to prevent cystitis. Especially useful product for men, because it serves as a powerful aphrodisiac. Vegetable contains an important sex hormone – androsterone, which increases energy, the potential of a strong half of humanity.

The juice of leeks has antiseptic and bactericidal action. Increases the effectiveness of drug treatment of inflammatory diseases (bladder, arthritis and gout).

Противопоказания

Leek should be excluded from the daily diet of people suffering from:

• high blood pressure;
• recurrent urticaria;
• allergies to nickel, essential oils;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach, gastritis, colitis;
• increased acidity.

Use with caution during lactation: in a small amount and always after heat treatment. Monitor the baby’s reaction. Essential oils, which are part of the onion, saturate the mother’s milk with an unpleasant odor, give a bitter taste. It is for this reason that newborns often refuse breast milk. In addition, overeating onions can cause nausea, heartburn in the mother and bloating, colic in the baby. If after breastfeeding the behavior of the infant has changed, nervousness has appeared, the consumption of leek should be stopped.

Interestingly, if a woman consumed onions during pregnancy, the child’s body is considered accustomed to the product and there should be no problems with introducing a vegetable into the baby’s diet.

How to choose and store?

Leek should be bought only with strong green leaves, white and dense onions with no signs of wilting. The younger a vegetable is, the more tender and fragrant its taste will be. The length of the white part should not exceed 7 cm.

Before use, the leek should be thoroughly rinsed, since in the lower part of the plant a lot of small stones and earth accumulate. If you wish, you can soak it in cold water for 30 minutes. Thus, nitrates will come out of the product (if organic mixtures or mineral fertilizers were used to stimulate the growth of the plant). To preserve the beneficial properties of the leek is stored in a package of plastic film in the refrigerator. If the onions do not pack other products will absorb the sharp smell of the vegetable. In one package is placed from 5 to 7 pieces. Before storage, the vegetable is not cut and not washed. Otherwise, it will quickly deteriorate.

Pearl onions have a unique feature: during storage, it accumulates ascorbic acid, so that its content increases 1,5-2 times.

Cooking application

Leek to taste more tender onions, produces a delicate aroma. Eat a white stem. However, coarser green leaves can be used to make various soups. In addition, the leek feathers are put in cold appetizers, salads, eaten as an independent dish. It harmonizes well and emphasizes the taste of fresh vegetables.

If the onion is served as a side dish, it should never be digested, since in this form the vegetable is completely digested and turns into an unappetizing mass. Enough to be soft. Vegetable goes well with sour cream, cream, cheese, fish and all kinds of meat. From onions, they prepare a filling for flour products (vegetable and mushroom). Of spices and spices, it harmonizes with basil, lemon, mustard, parsley, sage, thyme, chervil. Leek can be used wherever the recipe provides for the use of onions. In this case, the dish turns out more refined and delicate in taste.

How to use?

The herb is eaten raw or heat-treated.

Boiled leek

Cut the white part of the vegetable into rings, boil it in salted water for 5 minutes. Do not digest the stems, otherwise they will become mucous. Then transfer the leek to a dry skillet, dry the 1-2 for a minute on low heat.

Steamed

Leek is washed, cut into pieces, placed in a container (colander) and cooked over boiling water for 5 minutes. After the specified time the product is salted. Vegetable can be cooked entirely in a double boiler. In this case, the cooking time is extended to 8 minutes.

Grilled

Steam or boil young leeks, then oil the stems of the plants, fry them on the grill until brown strips appear. As a rule, this requires no more than 1-2 minutes on each side.

Fried leek

Chop the stems into rings, put them on a hot frying pan, fry in oil (cream or vegetable) for about 8 minutes over medium heat, sometimes turning them over. Salt it. Onions should be soft and get a golden crust.

Braised Leek

Place chopped or whole stems of the plant in a hot frying pan, add a little broth, a piece of butter. Simmer covered over low heat for 20 minutes until softened.

Baked Leek

Cut the stems of the plant into large pieces, place in a baking dish, add olive oil, salt. Preheat oven to 190 degrees. Place the mold in the oven, bake for 30 minutes, turn it over a couple of times. So the leek will become soft and redden equally from all sides.

Traditional recipes

Recipes of traditional medicine:

1. For relieving joint pain, treating wounds, boils. In addition, this recipe relieves swelling after insect bites (gadflies, mosquitoes, bees). Method of preparation: grind the white and green parts of the plant in a blender to a state of homogeneous gruel. Apply the resulting mass to the damaged area or diseased area, cover it with gauze, film, and fix with a bandage. Compress hold 5-8 hours.
2. From sore throats. Squeeze juice from leek. Gargle them up to 5 once a day for 3 days. The phytoncides which are a part of a vegetable have local antibacterial action, kill painful flora.
3. From pneumonia. Finely chop the onion, place in a container, inhale vapors deeply from the jar. Crushed leek quickly loses its beneficial properties, therefore, it cannot be stored in this form. For each inhalation, use a new portion of onions.
4. With a cold. Squeeze juice from a leek, bury 3 drops into each nostril 3 times a day.
5. To restore potency. Grind celery and leek in equal amounts into a homogeneous mass using a blender. Gruel eat 3 once a day for 50 g for 2,5 months.
6. To improve immunity. Chop the leek, add 30 ml of olive oil. Mix everything thoroughly. Take 3 times a day for 40 g.
7. From atherosclerosis. Grind 100 g of leek, squeeze the juice. Add 150 ml of honey, mix. Take 15 g of gruel 2,5 hours after a meal three times a day.
8. From a strong cough. Leek (4-5 stalks) and garlic (1 head) finely chop, boil in unpasteurized milk until the vegetables soften. Cool, add honey (to taste). Take 15 ml every hour throughout the day.
9. From hypertension. Grind 20 cloves of garlic, 4 stalks of leek, 5 lemons without a peel. Add 0,8 kg of sugar (preferably cane) to the mixture. Pour in the ingredients of 2 liters of non-hot boiled water, insist in a cool dark place for 7 days. Take 15 ml 25 minutes before meals three times a day. The course of treatment is 3 weeks.

Onion diet

Leek normalizes metabolism, improves the gallbladder, liver, gastrointestinal tract and has a diuretic effect, due to which it is recommended for use by overweight people. In addition, the composition of onions includes rutin, which prevents the formation of fat cells. To gain harmony vegetable include in the daily diet as an independent dish or side dish.

Remember, the maximum amount of nutrients is concentrated in a fresh product. Bulb vegetables contain chromium, which suppresses sugar cravings and appetite, and controls blood glucose levels. In addition, leeks are low in calories – 36 kcal per 100 grams of product.

During the period of weight loss in the diet should dominate the bulbous. They can be eaten raw or boiled. To diet was effective limit the intake of fat, carbohydrates. It is not recommended to fry vegetable.

You can get lighter on the 2-4 kg per week onion menu.

Diet

Day number 1

• breakfast – tomato – 0,5 pcs, cottage cheese 5% – 10 g, black bread – 1 slice, leek – 1 pc, unsweetened herbal tea – 1 cup;
• second breakfast – apple and carrot puree – 100 g;
• lunch – onion puree soup – 250 ml;
• afternoon snack – a mix of tofu, pineapple and garlic – 150 g;
• dinner – salad of boiled chicken, corn, eggs, leek – 100 g.

Day number 2

• breakfast – cucumber – 1 pc, cottage cheese with leek – 100 g, black bread – 1 slice;
• second breakfast – onion pie – 100 g;
• lunch – boiled chicken fillet in garlic sauce – 150 g;
• afternoon snack – a mix of olives, onions and tomatoes – 100 g;
• dinner – apple and onion soup with mustard – 200 ml.

Day number 3

• breakfast – scrambled eggs with tomatoes and onions, steamed – 150 g;
• the second breakfast – grapefruit juice – 150 ml;
• lunch – stewed vegetables with onions – 250 g;
• afternoon snack – green smoothie from spinach, leek and celery – 200 ml;
• dinner – cottage cheese with spinach and garlic – 150 g.

Day number 4

• breakfast – rye bread – 1 slice, onion jam – 15 g, fruit tea – 1 cup;
• second breakfast – pear – 1 pc;
• lunch – a salad of squid, cucumber, leek, apple and egg, seasoned with lemon juice – 150 g;
• afternoon snack – onion pie with arugula and spinach – 100 g;
• dinner – vegetarian soup – 150 ml.

Day number 5

• breakfast – low-fat granular cottage cheese – 10 g, black bread – 2 slices, leek – 1 pc, tomato – 0,5 pc, tea with lemon;
• second breakfast – onion casserole – 100 g;
• lunch – boiled turkey under caramelized leek – 150 g;
• afternoon snack – orange jelly – 100 g;
• dinner – a salad of bell peppers, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes and leeks – 100 g.

Day number 6

• breakfast – oatmeal – 100 g, scrambled eggs with onions – 50 g.
• second breakfast – garlic salad – 100 g;
• lunch – pizza with low-calorie cheese and onions – 150 g;
• afternoon snack – salad with prunes, bell peppers and leeks – 100 g;
• dinner – soup with zucchini, leek – 100 g, cucumber – 1 pc.

Day number 7

• breakfast – tomato – 1 pc, durum wheat pasta with onions – 150 g;
• second breakfast – freshly squeezed apple juice – 150 ml;
• lunch – onion puree soup with croutons – 200 ml;
• afternoon snack – leek bread – 2 pcs;
• dinner – tomato juice with basil, garlic – 1 glass.

Onion diet is contraindicated for people with diseases of the digestive tract and a tendency to flatulence, as well as pregnant, lactating women. Leek enhances intestinal motility, stimulates metabolism, gives satiety, nourishes the body with nutrients.

How to grow?

At present, the leek is the third most popular onion among onions, second only to onions and garlic. Cultivation begins with seeds that retain germination up to 3 years. Before planting, they are pre-processed: placed in hot water (with a temperature of 45 degrees), then in cold. To get quick shoots, the seeds are germinated. To do this, lay them on a damp cloth, leave them in a warm place. After 3 days, dry the seeds and sow immediately.

Leek can be grown seedlessly. In this case, the seeds are sown directly in the ground in mid-May.

For seedlings observe the sowing of seeds:

• in seedling boxes – mid-February;
• glazed greenhouse – mid-April;
• under the film on the garden – the end of April.

Seeds are sown in a moistened soil in rows (through 0,05 m) in a well-lit place. The duration of daylight hours for culture is 11 hours. The depth of the groove should not exceed 0,015 m. After sowing the seeds, the box is covered with a film, placed in a warm place with a temperature of 22-25 degrees. After the first shoots appear, the temperature in the room is lowered to 12-17 degrees. The film is removed. Shoots withstand 7 days. Then the temperature is raised again to 14 degrees at night and 20 degrees during the day, observing it during the further period of seed cultivation.

Conclusion

Leek – a source of health and vitamins. In addition to the numerous medicinal properties of the vegetable has a delicate aroma, savory taste, so it is widely used in cooking to improve the gastronomic characteristics of dishes. Leek exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Essential oils of onion reduce symptoms associated with the flu and the common cold.

With regular use, the vegetable prevents respiratory diseases, increases the level of hemoglobin, protects against anemia. This is a great aphrodisiac that enhances sexual activity.

Other useful properties: normalizes digestion, stabilizes pressure, promotes weight loss, strengthens the skeleton, lowers cholesterol, improves eyesight, heals the nervous system. Leek is good for the heart, because it contains active forms of folic acid, which are involved in reducing the concentration of homocysteine, which causes CVS disease.

In the absence of contraindications, the product is recommended to be included in the daily diet on an ongoing basis. Daily rate – stalk 1-2.

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