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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Leek Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing

    Published: May 23, 2022 by Kate Hackworthy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe
    Plate of salad on a table, with text: warm leek salad with feta and beans.
    Plate of salad, with text: How to Make Leek, Feta and Bean Salad.

    Warm leeks and earthy white beans get tossed with a creamy homemade honey mustard dressing in this delicious Leek Salad! The ingredients are simple and the salad is easy to assemble. This is the perfect side dish for any meal or served as the main course.

    Leek salad on a serving plate.
    Leek salad

    This warm leek salad is the perfect addition to your side dish lineup. The warm leeks and earthy white beans are tossed with a creamy homemade honey mustard dressing to create a delicious and easy-to-assemble veg-packed salad!

    What are leeks? Leeks are a member of the onion family and have a similar shape to green onions. They have a milder flavor than onions and are often used in soups and salads.

    The ingredients in this leek salad are simple, but the flavors are complex and deliciously satisfying. The white beans add a hearty component to the salad, while the spinach provides a pop of color and freshness along with healthy nutrients.

    This leek salad is perfect for any occasion. Serve it as a hearty side dish at your next barbecue or family gathering, or enjoy it as a main course for lunch or dinner. No matter how you enjoy it, this salad is sure to please!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • More Recipes Using Leeks
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    A great way to use fresh leeks!

    The homemade honey mustard dressing is so easy to make and is the perfect compliment to the leeks and beans.

    This leek salad can be served warm or cold, making it versatile for any season!

    Leek Salad is hearty enough to be served as a main course, or light enough to be a side dish.

    Ingredients

    • Fresh Leeks - This vegetable is in the onion family and has a milder flavor than onions. They are usually white or light green in color and have a long, cylindrical shape.
    • Spinach - Adds a dose of fresh green color and a punch of nutrients.
    • Canned White Beans - Adds fiber, texture, and a hearty flavor to the salad.
    • Oil - The leeks get cooked down in oil until tender and soft.
    • Garnish - A mixture of tangy crumbled feta cheese (or goat's cheese) and crunchy pumpkin seeds are the perfect blend of flavor and texture to finish off the salad.

    For the honey mustard dressing:

    • Olive Oil - Makes up the oil base of the dressing and contains healthy fats.
    • Honey - Adds a natural sweetness to the dressing that contrasts the savory flavors. Swap to maple syrup to make it a vegan dressing.
    • Dijon Mustard - Gives the dressing a tangy mustard flavor that pairs well with honey.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar - Adds acidity to the dressing as well as a mild apple flavor.
    • Salt & Pepper - Balances and enhances the flavor of the dressing.

    Please see the recipe card below for quantities.

    Instructions

    Wondering how to make this Leek Salad recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

    Beans tossed with cooked leeks.

    Cook the leeks: Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and saute, stirring often, until soft. This will take about 7 minutes. Add in the white beans.

    Whisking dressing in a jug.

    Assemble the honey mustard dressing: Add all of the dressing ingredients to a bowl. Whisk to fully combine and set aside.

    Adding spinach to the pan.

    Add the beans and greens: While the leeks are hot, add the raw spinach. Stir until the spinach is wilted down.

    Pouring dressing onto the salad.

    Plate and add dressing: Pile the warm leek salad onto a serving plate and drizzle with the honey mustard dressing.

    Garnish and serve: Top with the pumpkin seeds and feta cheese. Enjoy!

    Collage of prepping leeks.

    Top tips

    How to properly clean leeks: Leeks come up out of the soil, so they can have lots of dirt trapped inside. To clean the leeks, cut off the root end and the dark green leaves. Cut the leek in half length-wise, then slice it into thin half-moons. Fill a large bowl with cold water and add the leek slices. Swish them around to loosen any dirt, then let them sit for a few minutes so the dirt can settle to the bottom of the bowl. Carefully pour off the water, being sure to leave the dirt behind. Repeat if necessary. Alternatively, run them lengthways under water to flush out the dirt.

    Make sure the white beans are fully rinsed and drained before adding them to the salad to prevent the salad from becoming too watery.

    Add the spinach to the salad while it's hot to ensure that it wilts down properly into the salad.

    Variations

    Change up the greens: Instead of spinach, use arugula, kale, Swiss chard, or a combination of all of them.

    Try different beans: Great Northern beans, cannellini beans, or black-eyed peas would all be delicious in this salad. You could even try Broad Beans (aks lima beans).

    Add some protein: Grilled tofu would make a great addition to this salad to turn it into a high-protein meal.

    Make it vegan: Omit the feta cheese or use a vegan cheese alternative. Try this Vegan Feta.

    Add crunch: Garnish with pumpkin seeds or try other crunchy toppings including chopped nuts or croutons. You'll love my easy Air Fryer Croutons.

    Close up of salad on a serving dish.

    Storage

    This warm leek and bean salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. The dressing can be stored separately in a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid. For best results, store the salad without the pumpkin seeds and feta cheese and garnish before serving.

    FAQs

    Can you eat leeks raw in a salad?

    Yes, leeks can be eaten raw in a salad. To do so, slice the leek thinly and add it to your salad. The flavor of raw leeks is milder than that of cooked leeks, so you may want to add more dressing or other flavors to your salad if using them raw.

    How do you prepare leeks for warm salad?

    To prepare leeks for salad, first, clean them thoroughly. Then, cut off the root end and the dark green leaves. Slice into thin half-moons and add to your salad.

    More Recipes Using Leeks

    • Sauteed Buttered Leeks
    • Grilled Leeks with Lemon and Parmesan
    • Cheesy Leeks
    • Potato Leek Soup
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    Plate of salad on a table.

    📖 Recipe

    Salad on a serving plate.

    Leek Salad

    Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts
    Warm leeks and earthy white beans get tossed with a creamy homemade honey mustard dressing in this delicious Leek Salad!
    4.86 from 7 votes
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    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 285 kcal

    Equipment

    • Cutting board
    • Knife
    • Frying pan

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 tablespoon oil
    • 2 large leeks trimmed, washed and sliced (2 cups sliced)
    • 15 ounce white beans (400g) butter beans or lima beans, drained and rinsed
    • 2 cups handfuls spinach roughly chopped

    For the honey mustard dressing

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoons salt
    • ¼ teaspoons pepper

    To serve

    • 2 tablespoons feta cheese crumbled
    • 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium-low heat.
    • Add the leeks and cook, stirring often, until soft - about 7 minutes.
    • Make the dressing by whisking the ingredients together. Set aside.
    • Stir the beans into the leeks and cook for a further 2 minutes, then stir in the spinach and allow it to wilt.
    • Pile the warm leek salad onto a serving plate and drizzle with the dressing.
    • Top with the pumpkin seeds and feta cheese.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 14gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 212mgPotassium: 789mgFiber: 8gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2223IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 149mgIron: 6mg

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

    More Salad Recipes

    • Quinoa and Black Beans
    • Zucchini Halloumi Couscous
    • Caprese Pasta Salad
    • Broad Bean Salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      June 02, 2022 at 11:39 am

      5 stars
      Just having the leftovers for lunch now, thanks, Kate!

      Reply
    2. Jacqueline Debono

      May 28, 2022 at 10:49 am

      5 stars
      I've never used leeks in salad before, not sure why! This salad was really good and the dressing is dreamy!

      Reply
    3. Amanda

      May 24, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      5 stars
      This leek salad made for such a delicious spring side dish! The dressing was absolutely divine, and the white beans added a nice heartiness.

      Reply
    4. Helen

      May 24, 2022 at 11:22 am

      5 stars
      That was delicious! Perfect as part of a relaxed summer lunch with a friend. Yum! I used goat cheese and left out the pumpkin seeds - but still really good!

      Reply
    5. Gina

      May 23, 2022 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      What a simple yet filling and completely delicious salad! The dressing is something I could use on SO many things!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kate, a journalist, author and multi-award-winning food blogger. I hope you enjoy my vegetarian and vegan recipes. About Me

    Collage of press logos.

    Popular recipes

    • The BEST Easy Red Lentil Dahl
    • Easy Naan Bread Recipe (yeast-free)
    • Mini Baked Potatoes
    • Easy Lentil Soup

    Healthy Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Salad
    • Easy Healthy Cabbage Soup
    • Easy Vegan Ramen (15 minutes)
    • Rajma Masala (Kidney Bean Curry)

    My cookbook

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    Check out my Veggie Desserts Cookbook, full of tasty desserts with vegetables!

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