Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (2024)

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Magical Leek Soup is a delicious and healthy soup made with leeks. Were you intrigued when watching the last season of "Emily in Paris" on Netflix? What is this Magical Leek Soup that Sylvie talks about? Is this a real thing?

Magical Leek Soup is not a new trend but a generations old weight management trick from French women. Leeks, of the onion family, are very good for you and also are a known diuretic.

Leek Soup Diet

Author Mireille Guiliano in her book "French Women don't get fat" writes about a weekend leek diet, or cleanse. She makes her magical leek soup and then eats the boiled leeks exclusively to "regain equilibrium". Really, I do think that "Emily in Paris" should have quoted Mme Guiliano when referencing the soup - she put it on the map!

I first read Mme Guiliano's book when I was living in France in my twenties and I used this technique several times over the years - it has come in handy! I admit I had forgotten about Magical Leek Soup until Emily in Paris reminded me. Now, 2 children and 10 years later it may be time to start eating more leeks...

Emily in Paris Magical Leek Soup

The original Magical Leek Soup is made with nothing but leeks and water. The recipe is super simple:

  1. Clean and chop 5 leeks.

2. Cover with water in a soup pot.

3. Simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Strain the broth to sip throughout the day (this is the magical leek soup!) and reserve the leeks to eat as a meal.

Definitely diet food. Delicious diet food, but diet food nonetheless. Hardly a dish I could serve to my husband or kids!

P.S. If you want another Emily in Paris Recipe you will enjoy my Kir Royale co*cktail Post

Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (2)

Le Chef's Wife Magical Leek Soup

Very similar to the original Magical Leek Soup but with the addition of potatoes. The potatoes make all the difference!

Add a few potatoes to the recipe and you will have a soup that is filling, creamy in texture and oh so satisfying while keeping all the wonderful benefits of the leeks. My Magical Leek Soup does not feel like diet food, it feels like comfort food. Much closer in taste and consistency to Vichyssoise Soup (a French Bistro classic) but without the cream, butter or chicken stock. Plus, my French Chef husband loves it too. Alors!

The addition of one star anise seed is a French Chef trick that adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the soup. A delicious tanginess that elevates the dish.

Did you know that Vichyssoise was apparently Julia Child's favorite soup? Another reason why I feel connected to Julia Child. You can read about my recent tour of her Georgetown row house here.

Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (3)

FAQS about Leeks

What is Magical Leek Soup?

Magical Leek Soup is a broth made from boiling leeks in water. It is a mild diuretic and a secret diet food for French women for generations. The practice, as written by Mireille Guiliano in her book, "French women don't get fat" is to sip the broth throughout the day and eat the boiled leeks as the meal. A leek cleanse that is actually rather tasty!

What is the difference with Le Chef's Wife Magical Leek Soup?

My recipe is very similar but with a few added ingredients that make the Magical Leek Soup taste more like comfort food than diet food. A few potatoes. Star anise seed for a delicious tang to the broth. A few sautéed leeks as a garnish. This magical leek soup could be served at a dinner party.

Le Chef's Wife Magical Leek Soup is closer in flavor to a Vichyssoise soup, but without the butter, cream or chicken stock.

Le Chef's Wife Magical Leek Soup is also a vegan and gluten free recipe.

How do you clean leeks?

Leeks can be intimidating. It is not easy to get all the sand and grit out if you don't know the tricks of the trade. Here is how to clean leeks like a French Chef.
1. Cut off the dark green tops of the leek (chop where you see a hint of light green turn into dark green)
2. Cut off the bottom (the roots)
3. Peel off the top layer of the leek
3. Quarter the top of the leek making two opposite incisions to halfway down the top of the stalk
4. Place the leek upside down in a container of ice cold water.
5. Swirl it about and then let it sit for a few minutes.

The leek will fan open and all the dirt and sand will be released. Now the leek is ready to cook. Bon Appétit!

Where can I buy leeks?

Most grocery stores will carry them in the fresh produce section. Look next to the celery and the fennel. Trader Joes sells them already washed and trimmed in bags.

What do leeks taste like?

They look like a huge green onion. Leeks are of the onion family but they have a much sweeter and nuttier taste than most onions. Sautée sliced leeks in a little olive oil and they are surprising. Add some cream and they literally melt in your mouth. Miam!

What is the leek soup diet?

Author Mireille Guiliano in her book "French Women don't get fat" writes about a weekend leek diet, or cleanse. She makes her magical leek soup and then eats the boiled leeks exclusively for a weekend to "regain equilibrium". Really, I do think that "Emily in Paris" should have quoted Mme Guiliano when referencing the soup - she put it on the map!

What is Magical Leek Soup from Emily in Paris?

When devising a marketing campaign for leeks, Emily evokes Magical Leek Soup which is a broth made from boiling leeks in water. It is a mild diuretic and a secret diet food for French women for generations.

Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (4)

Soup Sunday Challenge

Magical Leek Soup is the first recipe of the 8 week Soup Sunday Challenge. The goal is to eat better, one pot of homemade soup per week at a time. One small change that can have an impact on how you, and your family, eat. The ultimate French woman healthy eating trick.

Come and make soup with me! What soup are you cooking this weekend?

Other Le Chef's Wife Recipes you will enjoy

Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (5)

Fancy Cream of Cauliflower Soup

La Soupe au Pistou

Healthy Potage aux Légumes - French Vegetable Soup

Authentic Ratatouille Recipe

Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée

La Poule au Pot - the easiest way to cook a whole chicken

About Le Chef's Wife

Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (6)

Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (5 and 2) and I have a full time job in hospitality in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.

I share our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you!

Au plaisir,

Le Chef's Wife

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Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (7)

Magical Leek Soup

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  • Author: lechefswife
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 40
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: soup
  • Method: french
  • Cuisine: french
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Description

Magical Leek Soup - the French woman's diet secret, as referenced in "Emily in Paris". Le Chef's Wife twist on the recipe is delicious and family friendly. It tastes like comfort food yet is incredibly healthy for you. Vegan and gluten free. Tasty and pretty enough to be served at a dinner party.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 6 leeks (5 for the soup, 1 for the garnish)
  • 3 medium sized potatoes (yukon gold preferrably)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 star anise seed
  • ½ tsp of fleur de sel (French gray rock salt)
  • 8 Cups of Water

Instructions

  1. Peel, clean and chop the leeks - discarding the dark green tops. 5 of the leeks can be chopped in big pieces, 1 leek, the leek you will use for the garnish, should be chopped in fine half rounds.
  2. Peel and quarter the potatoes.
  3. Heat the olive oil into a soup pot on medium heat.
  4. Add the garlic and the leeks for soup (the 5 leeks).
  5. Sautée the leeks for 5 minutes until they start to become translucent. Stir frequently, you don't want them to burn.
  6. Add the fleur de sel.
  7. Pour in 8 cups of water and add the anise seed the potatoes.
  8. Allow to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are soft.
  9. Taste the broth - add an additional pinch of salt or pepper if needed.
  10. *Remove the star anise seed from the broth - you do NOT want to mix the star anise with the immersion blender!*
  11. Mix the soup with the immersion blender.
  12. (note you can add an additional 2 cups of water, 1 cup at a time, only if needed. The consistency should be thick but still soup like).
  13. For the garnish:
  14. Drizzle ½ tbsp of olive oil in frying pan over medium heat.
  15. Add the finely chopped leek you reserved for the garnish and a pinch of fleur de sel.
  16. Stir frequently and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Add ¼ cup of water halfway through to steam the leeks. Careful not to let burn! If the leeks begin to stick to the pan and get dark brown, add a little more water and bring the heat down.
  17. Once the leeks are translucent and soft they are done. Taste them sautéed leeks are deliciously nutty and a little sweet! Add a little more salt to taste (if needed).

To serve:

Spoon the Magical Leek Soup into a bowl. Top with a tbsp of the sautéed leeks. Voilà! A restaurant worthy meal that is filling and comforting but also incredibly good for you!

Bon Appétit,

Le Chef's Wife

Notes

How to clean leeks:

Leeks can be intimidating. It is not easy to get all the sand and grit out if you don't know the tricks of the trade. Here is how to clean leeks like a French Chef.
1. Cut off the dark green tops of the leek (chop where you see a hint of light green turn into dark green)
2. Cut off the bottom (the roots)
3. Peel off the top layer of the leek
3. Quarter the top of the leek making two opposite incisions to halfway down the top of the stalk
4. Place the leek upside down in a container of ice cold water.
5. Swirl it about and then let it sit for a few minutes.

The leek will fan open and all the dirt and sand will be released. Now the leek is ready to cook. Bon Appétit!

Magical Leek Soup - Le Chef's Wife (2024)

FAQs

Is Magic leek soup a real thing? ›

What is Magical Leek Soup? Magical Leek Soup is a broth made from boiling leeks in water. It is a mild diuretic and a secret diet food for French women for generations.

Can leeks help with weight loss? ›

Because leeks are a low-calorie food, they can be part of a weight management program. The water and fiber in leeks can give you a feeling of fullness, so you are less likely to overeat. Leeks also add a lot of flavor to foods and make eating healthy dishes enjoyable.

Is leek soup good for you? ›

The diet leek soup is super-low in calories and contains a good amount of vitamins and fibre. It is also a natural diuretic that helps your body expel excess water.

Is it OK to eat leeks everyday? ›

Leeks may protect against certain types of cancer

Studies suggest that people who regularly eat leeks and other allium vegetables may have up to a 46 percent lower risk of gastric cancer than people who don't eat them, but further studies are needed to be sure. Leeks may also protect you from colorectal cancer.

Is leek soup a laxative? ›

Other Health Benefits of Leeks:

Leeks have laxative property and thus, they help in relieving constipation. This vegetable is a natural diuretic, antiseptic and an anti-arthritic agent.

What do leeks taste like? ›

Leeks have a mildly sweet flavor that is reminiscent of other alliums, such as onions, shallots, garlic, and chives. They are often used the way onions are — as part of a base of flavors for soups, stews, and other long-cooking dishes. However, their more mild flavor means they can be enjoyed on their own as well.

Are leeks good for your liver? ›

Leeks have liver-protecting properties, and actually reduce the level of liver enzymes. Leeks reduce fatty liver (liver triglyceride accumulation) caused by high-fat diets. Leeks improve lipid profile by decreasing total cholesterol and triglyceride levels while raising good cholesterol levels.

Are leeks healthier than onions? ›

Leek values

Leek is richer in some vitamins and minerals compared to onion. In 100 grams of leeks, there are 2.1 g of iron — 10 times more than the amount found in onions. AgroWeb.org data on onions and leeks show that the calcium content of leeks is higher, with the exception of green onions.

When should you not eat leeks? ›

Avoid leeks with cuts or bruises. The dark green tops of leeks should look fresh. Avoid leeks with yellowing or wilting tops. Choose smaller, younger leeks when you want to eat them uncooked.

How do the French eat leeks? ›

While the French use them all over the place, from the “French Women Don't Get Fat” soup to potato-leek soup to leek-and-whatever quiche and leek-and-whatever omelettes and leeks with vinaigrette and leeks gratin, I had them once in a restaurant here in France without any fuss, really just leeks, and they were awesome.

Are leeks anti-inflammatory? ›

Leeks are members of the onion family. And, like garlic and onion, they have sulfur compounds that give us health benefits. Allicin, one of these sulfur compounds, neutralizes free radicals. Hence, it makes leeks a potent anti-inflammatory food.

Do the French really drink leek water? ›

They refer to it as "magic leek soup" that people in France make by boiling leeks, discarding the solids and drinking the remaining water. It is credited with helping French people keep a svelte shape.

How to drink leek water for weight loss? ›

It's a pretty basic regimen: The juice is to be drunk (reheated or room temperature to taste) every 2-3 hours, a cup at a time. This will be your nourishment for both days, until Sunday dinner, when you can have a small piece of meat or fish (4 – 6oz.

Are leeks high in iron? ›

Leeks. One leek has 1.36 mg of iron, so it will get you to 7.6% DV of iron intake. Give the classic potato and leek soup recipe a go, but also try them charred off and stuffed with blue cheese and nuts. Or pair up with mushrooms in an iron-rich Asian style broth, with some greens tossed in for good measure.

How does the 7 day soup diet work? ›

One of the most popular soup diets, the cabbage soup diet is a 7-day eating plan that involves eating a chicken- or vegetable-broth-based soup that contains cabbage and other low carb vegetables. In addition to cabbage soup, you can also have one or two other low calorie foods, such as skim milk or leafy greens.

Is Stone soup a real thing? ›

However, a dish called "stone soup" that uses the elements really does exist in Oaxaca, Mexico. The Chinantec people used the rocky Mexican terrain to their advantage during the Pre-Ceramic period, according to Culinary Backstreets. Large boulders, heated with fire, served as cookware.

What is leek soup made of? ›

It requires only a few ingredients—leeks, butter, potatoes, broth, cream, and some aromatics—and some very simple knife skills and cooking techniques. I start mine the classic way, with leeks slowly cooked down in butter.

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