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Melted leeks with spinach, basil and ricotta recipe

Melted leeks with spinach, basil and ricotta recipe

7 ratings

Batch cooking just got that bit better with this jammy leek filling, with a helping hand from creamy ricotta and fresh spinach and basil. So versatile, this filling can be used to top warm bruschetta or can be combined with our butternut squash, tomato and rosemary sauce to make honeycomb pasta with melted leeks and butternut squash sauce recipe. See method

  • Makes 800ml (about 8 servings)
  • 15 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook
  • 117 calories / serving
  • Freezable
  • Healthy
  • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-free

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 8 small leeks (about 1kg), thinly sliced
  • 6 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 250g baby spinach
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 2 x 250g tubs ricotta
  • 30g pack fresh basil, leaves picked and roughly chopped
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
If you don't have any leeks, try using spring or white onions instead

Each serving contains

  • Energy

    485kj
    117kcal
    6%
  • Fat

    7g 10%
  • Saturates

    4g 18%
  • Sugars

    5g 5%
  • Salt

    0.4g 7%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 6.1g Protein 7.4g Fibre 0.4g

Method

  1. Heat the oil in a large lidded saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add the leeks and 100ml water; season. Cover and cook for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until very soft. Stir through the garlic, cover and cook for 5 mins more.

  2. Add the spinach, lemon zest and juice, then season. Cover and cook for 3 mins to start wilting the spinach. Remove the lid, stir and cook for 3 mins more, stirring occasionally, until the spinach has completely wilted. Remove from the heat and stir through the ricotta, basil and nutmeg, if using.

Freezing and defrosting guidelines

The sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. In order to enjoy optimum flavour and quality, frozen items are best used within 3 months of their freezing date. For more tips on freezing and defrosting food, read our article Love Your Freezer.

See more Vegetarian recipes

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