HELP!!! Preparing Vichyssoise tomorrow and don't know how to cut up leeks....Please help me out.?

Question

Tomorrow is Mardi Gras and my sister and I are throwing a party. We are preparing Vichyssoise (cold potato soup) for the first course but it calls for leeks and we have no idea how to cut up the leeks for the soup. Does anyone know how to cut up leeks??

Answer 1

Leeks are less scary than they look - they're like large scallions or green onions.
First, cut off the top part where it begins to get dark green and branch out. You only want to use the white and light green parts that are solid round.
Next, cut the leek in half, lengthwise. You should have two identical, semi-circle pieces with the cut running through the root and up along the stem.
Third, give them a good rinse between the leaves. Leeks like to grow up with dirt caught in between their leaves, and you don't want a gritty soup :) Just gently hold the leaves apart under running water.
Finally, set the leeks on your cutting board, cut side down. They should be sitting flat. Slice small pieces off, crosswise (straight across the lengthwise cut you already made), starting from the top, and heading down to the root. Discard the root pieces.

Answer 2

use the white part of the leeks and about an inch above, right up to the place where it starts to turn dark green. So cut the leaves off here and discard them. you also are going to cut off the roots, but be careful and try to keep the leek attached at the base.