Leek ashes - why?

I have seen restaurants with dishes containing "Leek ashes". What do the ashes add to the dish?

leeks

Best Answer

I've seen references to leek ashes providing a smoky note to sauces and that this is a Spanish origin technique. Using it as a coating for steak also appears to be trendy, so I'd guess it's again for a subtle smoky flavour.

I'm most familiar with ashes being part of cheese. For example, Morbier has a layer of vegetable ash in the middle, and some goat cheeses are rolled in ash. I assume that originally this would have been for a preservative effect, but is now part of the character of the cheeses.

Pictures about "Leek ashes - why?"

Leek ashes - why? - Variety of Fresh Vegetables on a Wooden Table

Leek ashes - why? - Crop unrecognizable woman placing ripe vegetables in wicker basket

What does leek ash taste like?

This vegetarian barbecue recipe uses up the often discarded green ends of the leeks by burning them to a crisp and blitzing into a 'leek ash'. Though it may sound a bit unusual, the deep, smoky, oniony flavour of the powder is surprisingly complex and almost tastes like dark cocoa powder.

How do you make ash food?

How to cook with ash

Ash has been used one way or another in cooking for many hundreds of years. ...

The easiest way to make ash is to simply set light to hay in a steel bucket and let it burn until only the ashes remain. ...

To make ash-baked vegetables, simply peel the vegetable of your choice and rub the ash in.

In the Kitchen #117: Leek Ash Crusted Pork Tenderloin

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