Best 12 Cock A Leekie Stew Recipes

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"Cock a leekie stew" is a traditional Scottish dish that is typically made with chicken, leeks, potatoes, and barley. It is a hearty and flavorful stew that is perfect for a cold winter day and it can be traced back to the 16th century. The dish is thought to have originated in the Scottish Highlands, where it was a popular way to use up leftover chicken. Today, "cock a leekie stew" is enjoyed all over Scotland and is considered a national dish. The key to a great "cock a leekie stew" is to use high-quality ingredients and to simmer the stew for a long period of time, which allows the flavors to meld together.

Here are our top 12 tried and tested recipes!

COCK-A-LEEKIE



Cock-a-Leekie image

This porridgelike soup has Scottish roots. Barley makes it thick, and prunes give it a slightly sweet note; white wine and vegetables, includung leeks, add flavor. It's a popular lunch bowl that hits the spot.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken     Chicken Breast Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/4 pounds skinless chicken thighs (on the bone; 4 pieces)
1 1/4 pounds skinless chicken breast halves (on the bone; 3 pieces)
Four 14 1/2-ounce cans low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
2 cups white wine or water
2 large celery ribs, halved crosswise
1 large carrot, peeled
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
6 leeks, white and light-green parts only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
12 pitted prunes, quartered (2/3 cup packed)
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Heat a 6-quart Dutch oven on medium-high until hot. Add thighs; cook until browned, turning once, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with breasts.
  • Add broth, wine, celery, carrot, and garlic to Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; scrape any browned bits from pot; return chicken to pot, reduce heat, and simmer, skimming as necessary, for 1 hour. Transfer chicken to a plate; let cool. Transfer vegetables to another plate; reserve.
  • Add leeks, prunes, and barley to broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until thick, about 40 minutes more. Once chicken has cooled, shred meat. Finely dice carrot and celery. Stir chicken, carrot, celery, and parsley into soup, heat through, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 416 g, Cholesterol 132 g, Fat 5 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 43 g, Sodium 754 g

COCK A LEEKIE SOUP



Cock a Leekie Soup image

Traditional Scots soup of chicken and leeks. One pound of potatoes, peeled and cubed, could be substituted for the barley, if desired.

Provided by briony

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes

Time 1h40m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 pounds chicken thighs, bone in, skin removed
10 cups water
1 onion, chopped
⅓ cup barley
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
7 leeks, sliced
2 stalks celery, thickly sliced
1 sprig fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot over high heat, combine the chicken, water, onion and barley. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. Remove chicken, discard the bones and skin, chop meat into bite size pieces and return to the pot.
  • Add the chicken broth, leeks, celery, thyme, parsley, salt and ground black pepper. Simmer for 30 more minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 242.8 calories, Carbohydrate 12.4 g, Cholesterol 125.9 mg, Fat 6.5 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 32.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 502.8 mg, Sugar 2.6 g

TASTY SCOTTISH COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP



Tasty Scottish Cock-a-leekie Soup image

Cock-a-leekie soup is a staple dish in many Scottish homes and, if you've been brought up eating Scottish food, there is a high chance you'll be familiar with this warming chicken and leek based soup. Traditionally served in the winter and named 'Scotland's National Soup' Cock-a-leekie is a thick and flavoursome soup consisting of leeks, chicken and rice traditionally garnished with prunes.

Provided by Phil & Sonja

Categories     Recipes

Time 1h45m

Number Of Ingredients 10

Small whole chicken (1.3lb approx)
4 large leeks
4 large carrots
2 sticks of celery
2 bay leaves
1 onion *optional
120g long grain rice
Salt and white pepper
2.5 litres of cold water (approximately)
A handful of dried prunes **optional

Steps:

  • Chop the green parts off the leeks and put in the bottom of a pot, place the chicken on top.
  • Surround the chicken with the celery sticks, carrots, onion, and bay leaves. Cut them down to fit if necessary.
  • Add liberal amounts of salt and white pepper.
  • Pour cold water over the top (it should cover the chicken so you may need to use a little more or less than stated.
  • Cover and bring to the boil, then turn down to simmer for about one hour, until juices run clear when you push a knife into the chicken, or the chicken is falling off the bone.
  • Chop two whites of the leeks into rounds. The other two remains of the leeks are not necessary for the rest of the recipe so you can set aside to use for something else.
  • Chop the 2 remaining carrots into small pieces.
  • Use a spoon to remove some of the fat that floats to the top of the water.
  • Remove the chicken (I find the most uncomplicated way is to put in a colander over a bowl to collect any extra liquid, then tip the liquid back in the pot).
  • Set aside to cool a little.
  • Take the green part of the leeks, the onion, celery, and carrots from your stock.
  • Add the chopped whites of the leeks and the carrot and cook for 10 minutes.
  • Add the rice and simmer for a further 15 minutes, until the rice is cooked.
  • Meanwhile, remove the chicken from the bone and shred, and discard the bones.
  • Taste the stock and add more salt and pepper if necessary or simmer for longer and allow it to reduce to strengthen the flavour.
  • Add the shredded chicken back in and allow to heat through for a few minutes.
  • Dish into a bowl and sprinkle with a few chopped, dried, prunes then serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 400 calories, Carbohydrate 27 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 105 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 17 grams fat, Fiber 4 grams fiber, Protein 35 grams protein, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1, Sodium 279 grams sodium, Sugar 9 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams unsaturated fat

COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP



Cock-a-Leekie Soup image

Cock-a-leekie soup is a delicious and traditional Scottish recipe that is easy to make. This chicken and leek soup has many variations.

Provided by Elaine Lemm

Categories     Appetizer     Entree     Dinner     Soup

Time 2h

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (2 3/4-pound) whole chicken (fresh and free-range)
12 medium-sized leeks (well-washed and cut to 1-inch lengths)
4 ounces long grain rice (washed)
3 to 4 medium-sized carrots (peeled and grated)
Salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste
Garnish: Chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Cut up the whole chicken and chop some of the meat into pieces. (You will have leftover chicken meat.)

Nutrition Facts : Calories 930 kcal, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 274 mg, Fiber 6 g, Protein 90 g, SaturatedFat 12 g, Sodium 622 mg, Sugar 11 g, Fat 43 g, ServingSize Serves 4, UnsaturatedFat 0 g

COCK-A-LEEKIE STEW



Cock-A-Leekie Stew image

This is a Scottish dish that is traditionally a thick soup. I prefer it as a thin stew and have adapted my recipe accordingly. I use the entire leek (needs to be cleaned very carefully), but the green tips tend to be a bit tough so you might want to add them earlier in the process if you want to soften them up.

Provided by GYPSY-WITCH

Categories     Chicken Stew

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (2 to 3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
½ cup sliced carrots
1 cup barley
2 ½ cups water
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 leek, sliced

Steps:

  • In a large pot combine the chicken, carrots, barley, water, bouillon and salt and pepper to taste. Bring all to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside. Skim broth as needed.
  • Remove chicken from pot and add leeks. Bring back to a boil; reduce heat, cover and let simmer another 15 minutes or so, until thickened.
  • Meanwhile, skin and debone the cooked chicken. Return chicken meat to thickened stew and cook for about 5 minutes to heat through. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 636.4 calories, Carbohydrate 30.9 g, Cholesterol 170.5 mg, Fat 35.2 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 47.4 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sodium 331.3 mg, Sugar 1.7 g

COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP



Cock-a-leekie soup image

James Martin gives the classic restorative Scottish soup a twist - the prunes add a sweet contrast to the rich chicken broth

Provided by James Martin

Categories     Lunch, Main course

Time 1h45m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium chicken , jointed into pieces
180g smoked bacon lardon
2 carrots , chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
1-2 leeks , washed and cut into thick rounds (tops reserved)
splash of white wine
2 bay leaves
½ bunch thyme sprigs
15-20 stoned prunes
good-quality bread , to serve

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a large heavy-based saucepan until hot. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden brown, then remove and set aside. Add the bacon, carrots, celery and leek tops, and fry for 5 mins until it all starts to brown. Pour off any excess fat.
  • Splash in the wine and boil rapidly, scraping the bottom of the pan. Return the chicken pieces with the herbs and add enough cold water to cover. Slowly bring to the boil, then simmer for 40 mins until the chicken is tender.
  • Remove the chicken to a plate, cover with foil and leave to cool slightly. Strain the soup into a clean saucepan and discard all the other ingredients. Leave to stand for a few mins and skim off any fat that rises to the top. Pull the meat from the chicken bones and tear into large chunks.
  • Simmer the soup with the chicken, leeks and prunes for another 20-30 mins. Season to taste and serve with really good bread.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 337 calories, Fat 16 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 9 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 36 grams protein, Sodium 1.1 milligram of sodium

COCK-A-LEEKIE PIE



Cock-a-Leekie Pie image

The chicken and leek meld together as they cook in the filling.

Provided by Inez Valk-Kempthorne

Categories     Soup/Stew     Chicken     Bake     Kid-Friendly     Bon Appétit     Small Plates

Yield 6 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
3 bacon slices, cut into 1/4" pieces
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
3 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, thinly sliced into rounds
2 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped
1/2 cup quartered pitted prunes
1/3 cup all-purpose flour, plus more
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
All-Butter Pie Dough
1 large egg, beaten to blend

Steps:

  • Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 375°. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook bacon, stirring often, until crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon.
  • Season chicken with salt and pepper and cook in same skillet until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Add a splash of water to skillet. Cover, reduce heat, and cook until chicken is cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  • Add leeks to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add a splash of water, cover, and cook until leeks are very soft, 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Shred chicken and add to leeks along with thyme leaves and prunes.
  • Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in 1/3 cup flour and cook, whisking constantly, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Whisk in broth, adding a little at a time, until smooth. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5-7 minutes. Mix sauce into leek mixture; season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
  • Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface to a 14" round. Transfer to a 10" cast-iron skillet or a 9 1/2"-diameter deep pie dish. Lift up edge and let dough slump down into dish. Trim, leaving a 1" overhang. Spoon filling into skillet. Roll out second disk of dough to 11" round. Drape over filling and trim to a 1" overhang. Fold overhang under; crimp with a fork. Cut a few vents in top; brush with egg.
  • Bake until crust is golden brown, 50-60 minutes. Let pie cool slightly.
  • Do ahead: Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

COCK-A-LEEKIE SOUP (SCOTTISH CHICKEN AND LEEK SOUP)



Cock-a-Leekie Soup (Scottish Chicken and Leek Soup) image

Leeks star in this classic Scottish chicken soup, adding their sweet, oniony flavor to the meaty, fragrant broth. Some versions of this recipe omit the prunes, but their rich fruitiness is what sets this dish apart from other chicken soups. Rice, either brown or white, can stand in for the barley, and some recipes call for oats (in which case use an equal amount of steel-cut, rather than rolled). For a heartier, more stewlike soup, use 3/4 cup barley.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Time 2h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks
3 teaspoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
4 large leeks, cleaned, greens and whites separated
3 medium carrots, peeled (reserve peels), cut into 1/4-inch-thick coins
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced (reserve any leaves)
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
1 bunch parsley, stems and leaves separated
3 to 5 fresh thyme sprigs
1 fresh or dried bay leaf
1 star anise or clove
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup pearl barley
1/2 cup chopped pitted prunes

Steps:

  • Season chicken with 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Set chicken aside while prepping the other ingredients.
  • Put leek greens, carrot peels, celery leaves, garlic, parsley stems, thyme, bay leaf and star anise at bottom of a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Place chicken on top of the vegetables. Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the peppercorns, and pour in 8 cups cold water, or enough to just submerge the chicken.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer and partly cover the pot. Cook until chicken is cooked through and very tender, 45 to 55 minutes.
  • While the chicken cooks, thickly slice 3 of the leek whites into 1/2-inch coins. Thinly slice the remaining leek white; set thinly and thickly sliced leeks aside separately.
  • When the chicken is tender, using tongs, transfer to a large bowl or plate to cool. Strain the broth into a large bowl, discarding vegetables and herbs.
  • Wipe out the Dutch oven and return it to medium-high heat. Add butter, letting it melt. Add the thick leek coins (save the thinly sliced leek for garnish), a pinch of salt and pepper, and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer leek whites to a bowl (they can go on top of the chicken if there's room).
  • Pour broth back into the pot. Bring broth to a brisk simmer, and stir in barley, carrots and celery. Let broth simmer uncovered until the liquid is reduced by a third, and the barley and vegetables are tender, 40 to 50 minutes.
  • While the broth is simmering, use a fork or your fingers to shred chicken into bite-size pieces, discarding skin and bones.
  • Once the barley and vegetables are tender, stir in shredded chicken, sautéed leek whites and the prunes, and simmer for another 5 minutes to allow the prunes to soften (some might disintegrate). Taste and add salt, if needed. To serve, garnish with thinly sliced leek whites and parsley leaves.

COCK-A-LEEKIE



Cock-a-Leekie image

Provided by Frank Bruni

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 quarts salt-free homemade chicken stock or commercial low-sodium chicken broth
2 medium leeks, trimmed of roots and tough dark green leaves, quartered lengthwise and thoroughly washed
4 whole star anise
1 4-pound fresh free-range organic chicken, cut into 8 pieces and skinned
Salt
12 small to medium red potatoes, halved
4 ounces (about 12) dried prunes, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 cups heavy cream
8 slices smoked bacon
1/4 cup minced mint leaves

Steps:

  • Place chicken stock in a large saucepan and place over high heat to bring to a boil. Meanwhile, set aside a large bowl of ice water. When stock is boiling, add leeks and poach for 2 minutes. Remove with tongs and place in ice water until cool, then drain.
  • Add star anise and chicken pieces to broth. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently until chicken is just done, about 30 minutes. Transfer chicken and anise to a bowl and add enough hot broth to just cover; set aside. Return remaining broth to high heat and reduce to 1 1/2 to 2 cups. Meanwhile, in a medium pan of lightly salted water, boil red potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes.
  • Add prunes and cream to reduced broth. Boil until prunes are soft and sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, fry bacon until lightly browned and beginning to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add leeks and continue to cook until leeks are lightly browned, another 5 minutes. Transfer bacon and leeks to paper towels to drain; keep warm.
  • Season sauce with salt to taste. Drain potatoes and toss with mint. Drain chicken (broth may be reserved for another use), discarding star anise. To serve, place chicken on a plate, ladle with prune sauce, and top with leeks and bacon. Add potatoes and serve.

COCK-A-LEEKIE



Cock-A-Leekie image

This Scottish recipe is posted for the World Tour 2005 event. The source is With a Fine Feeling For Food by Janet Murray. This version uses only the broth, and is made more hearty with oatmeal - a good way to stretch the food supply in hard times.

Provided by PanNan

Categories     Onions

Time 1h

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 1/2 quarts chicken broth
5 leeks, thinly sliced
1/3 cup oatmeal, ground to flour consistency in the blender (or food processor)
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper
1 cup cream
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Steps:

  • Bring the broth to a boil over medium heat, and add the leeks.
  • Mix the oatmeal flour with the water, and gradually stir it into the broth. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cover and cook until the leeks are tender, skimming if necessary.
  • Pour the cream and parsley in a warm soup tureen, and pour the boiling soup over them.
  • Serve hot.

COCK-A-LEEKIE



Cock-a-Leekie image

Categories     Low Sodium     Simmer     Boil

Yield serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/4 pounds skinless chicken thighs (on the bone; 4 pieces)
1 1/4 pounds skinless chicken breast halves (on the bone; 3 pieces)
4 14 1/2-ounce cans low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
2 cups white wine or water
2 large celery ribs, halved crosswise
1 large carrot, peeled
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
6 leeks, white and light-green parts only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
12 pitted prunes, quartered (2/3 cup packed)
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steps:

  • Heat a 6-quart Dutch oven on medium-high until hot. Add the thighs; cook until browned, turning once, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with the breasts.
  • Add the broth, wine, celery, carrot, and garlic to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; scrape any browned bits from the pot. Return the chicken to the pot, reduce heat, and simmer, skimming as necessary, for 1 hour. Transfer the chicken to a plate; let cool. Transfer the vegetables to another plate; reserve.
  • Add the leeks, prunes, and barley to the broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until thick, about 40 minutes more. Once the chicken has cooled, shred the meat. Finely dice the carrot and celery. Stir the chicken, carrot, celery, and parsley into the soup, heat through, and serve.
  • Fit to eat recipe
  • (Per serving)
  • Calories: 416
  • Fat: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 132mg
  • Carbohydrate: 32g
  • Sodium: 754mg
  • Protein: 43g
  • Fiber: 5g

COCK A LEEKIE SOUP



Cock a Leekie Soup image

I am actually copying this from "all recipes" because I want to keep all my recipes on one site -- this one. This can also be made with breast meat and is quite good.

Provided by John W

Categories     Chicken

Time 1h45m

Yield 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
10 cups water
1 onion, chopped
1/3 cup barley
1 (10 1/2 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
7 leeks, sliced
2 stalks celery, thickly sliced
1 sprig fresh thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot over high heat, combine the chicken, water, onion and barley. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. Remove chicken, discard the bones and skin, chop meat into bite size pieces and return to the pot.
  • Add the chicken broth, leeks, celery, thyme, parsley, salt and ground black pepper. Simmer for 30 more minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.

Tips:

  • Use a variety of leeks. The recipe calls for 2 large leeks, but you can use a mix of different sizes and types of leeks. This will give your stew a more complex flavor and texture.
  • Don't overcrowd the pot. When you're adding the leeks to the pot, make sure not to overcrowd it. This will prevent them from cooking evenly.
  • Use a good quality chicken stock. The chicken stock is the base of the stew, so it's important to use a good quality stock. Look for a stock that is made with real chicken bones and vegetables.
  • Simmer the stew for at least 1 hour. This will allow the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender.
  • Serve the stew with your favorite sides. Cock-a-leekie stew is traditionally served with mashed potatoes, but it can also be served with rice, noodles, or bread.

Conclusion:

Cock-a-leekie stew is a classic Scottish dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. It's hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. So next time you're looking for a comforting and delicious meal, give this stew a try. You won't be disappointed!

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