Simple Vegan or Vegetarian Potato leek soup
There’s nothing quite like a hearty soup on a cold day, especially up here in the Northeast. Today, I’m sharing my recipe for potato leek soup, which can be made vegan or vegetarian but can be enjoyed by everyone!
While most of the ingredients in a potato leek soup recipe are vegetarian already, there are a few key ingredients that you can change to make it suitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet. These include vegetable broth, non-dairy milk, and butter or vegan butter are critical ingredients to this recipe. Jump to the recipe card below to see the full recipe.
About this Recipe
With its velvety texture and blend of savory flavors, this vegan potato leek soup recipe is a winner for any occasion. Whether you're seeking comfort on a chilly day or simply craving a nourishing meal, this soup will delight your taste buds and leave you feeling full and satisfied. The combination of creamy potatoes, aromatic leeks, and a touch of thyme creates a truly memorable meal.
One of my favorite ways to serve this soup is with crusty bread topped with a drizzle of olive oil and some crushed black pepper or some fresh chives.
Vegan or Vegetarian Versatility
This creamy soup can be made vegan or vegetarian, but however you prepare it, it'll be delicious. If you go for the vegan potato leek soup route, there's a few key ingredient swaps you'll need to make. Check out the main ingredients and their swaps below!
Butter is made up of about 80% milk fat, and 20% water. Its characteristic buttery flavor adds body to a dish and can be used in many different applications, from baking to traditional cooking techniques to even deep-fried butter if you live in the Midwest. While butter can be used in many dishes, food scientists have worked to create plant butters that mimic the taste, texture, and flavor of animal butter. For this reason, we leave the preference to you whether you choose animal or plant butter – both will suffice.
Milk vs Plant Milk
Milk can mean many different things to people today. From full fat, reduced fat, low fat, and non-fat, the purchase decision comes purely based on taste. However, with plant milks, there are many different pros and cons to using each type. I typically purchase soy milk, oat milk, or pea milk based on the sale price, but other things can influence my decision.
You can also use almond milk, coconut milk, or coconut cream but it may provide a bit of a different flavor. In this creamy vegan potato leek soup, it’s important to make sure your plant milk is unflavored and unsweetened, as it will alter the taste of the dish.
Leeks
Leeks grow in sandy areas, so it's very important to have clean leeks before you add them into your large soup pot. You can cut your leeks long ways down the middle of the stalk and in half again. This should help you cut uniform-sized pieces!
When you prepare the whole leeks, make sure you chop off the end and the the dark green parts. These can be sandy and too fibrious to enjoy, but you can save them to make your own vegetable stock.
Vegetable Stock
Leeks grow in sandy areas, so it's very important to have clean leeks before you add them into your large soup pot. You can cut your leeks long ways down the middle of the stalk and in half again. This should help you cut uniform-sized pieces!
When you prepare the whole leeks, make sure you chop off the end and the the dark green parts. These can be sandy and too fibrous to enjoy, but you can save them from making your own vegetable stock.
Potatoes
Did you know that different potato varieties will give different textures? My preference for this soup is to use yukon gold potatoes because they provide a creamy texture and they are easy to blend. But if you only have russet potatoes, these will work fine. Just be sure to cook them a little longer until they get very tender.
Sustainability & Nutrition Info
Depending on how you create this recipe, your sustainability factor will vary. While dairy products are much lower carbon intensive ingredients than meat, they are still from the same industry. The nutrition will also change depending on which type of milk or butter you use.
The Nutrition facts provided are based on using plant butter and soy milk. Regardless of which variation you choose, this vegan potato leek soup is a hearty recipe that will fill you up and keep you warm on a cold day.
Vegetarian or Vegan Potato Leek Soup
Equipment
- 1 Large Dutch Oven
- Regular Blender or Immersion Blender (Hand Blender)
Ingredients
- 1 leek thinly sliced
- 5 medium-sized peeled and chopped potatoes
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 cups Vegetable stock
- 1 cup milk or plant milk
- 2-3 stalks Celery
- 2 tbsp plant Butter or plant butter divided
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh Parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Melt butter in a pot over medium-high heat
- Add onion and celery and let cook until fragrant
- Then add leeks and garlic and let cook until tender
- Add peeled, cubed Potatoes
- Then add vegetable stock & plant milk
- Mix together, and let simmer for 30 minutes until you have tender potatoes
- Use your immersion blender and lightly blend together until about 1/2 way blended
- Add an additional tbsp of butter
- Finish blending until you reach your desired consistency
- Finish with salt, pepper, and chopped parsley or other fresh herbs
Storing the Vegan Potato Leek Soup
When it's finished and slightly cooled, you can store this soup in an airtight container for up to three days. When you reheat it, the soup may gel a bit because of the starches in the potatoes. So the next time you go to reheat it, make sure you do it over the stove top with a whisk and feel free to add some veggie broth to think it out.
Optional Enhancements:
While this is a simple and easy healthy potato leek soup recipe, there are a few ways you can enhance this to become an even more comforting soup. A classic potato leek soup recipe might use heavy cream. If you'd like to achieve a more velvety texture, you can add cashew cream for a vegan amendment. You can also top with vegan bacon or vegan sour cream.
Check out some other cold weather recipes here
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