Bacon-Wrapped Leeks
Ingredients
- 4 leeks
- 4 tbsp honey
- 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- 8 bacon slices
Directions
- Preheat the Traeger to 350°F or prepare your grill to a medium heat. If using charcoal, arrange the coals so they're in the center of the grill leaving about 3 inches around the edge for indirect heat
- Trim the tips of the leeks and slice in half lengthwise, leaving the roots intact
- Whisk together honey, lemon juice and 2 tbsp of water until honey has completely dissolved. Season with salt and pepper
- Brush the glaze over the cut sides of the leeks and wrap the leeks with bacon starting about an inch from the bottom. Use toothpicks to hold bacon in place if needed
- Cook leeks on Traeger or grill (in indirect heat) for 10 minutes on each side
- Increase Traeger/Grill to High heat and grill for another 5-10 minutes or until the bacon is fully cooked and crispy. If using charcoal, finish off in the center of the grill
I consider bacon-wrapped leeks to be an Italian dish. It’s just a couple ingredients but Northern Italians always seem to know the best ways to enjoy a leek. Traditionally, they’re cooked in pork fat or lard so the easy solution was obviously bacon! Cooking over the grill with infuse a nice smokiness in the leeks making them a perfectly balanced dish.
Start by cleaning and trimming the leeks. Slice them in half and give them a good rinse making sure to peel back some of the layers to wash out any grit. Trim the green ends and leave the roots. Pat them dry and then move on to the glaze. Keep it simple by combining equal parts honey and fresh lemon juice. Add some water and stir until the honey has dissolved and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat the grill to medium heat (350 on the Traeger, or arrange charcoal in the center of your grill). While the grill is getting hot, finish prepping the bacon-wrapped leeks. Brush the honey mixture onto the cut sides of the leeks, drizzling any remaining glaze over the green tops. Starting about an inch from the roots, wrap each leak half with two slices of bacon – if needed, use toothpicks to secure the bacon in place.
Grill over medium, or over indirect heat, for about 8-10 minutes on each side. Increase the heat to high (move the leeks to the center of a charcoal grill) and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and cooked through. They make for a great side to a steak or can even be served as an appetizer. Enjoy!