This creamy and delicious Vegan Leek and Potato Soup is warming and satisfying. Buttery leeks with delicate herbs and creamy potatoes make this soup perfectly creamy and tasty. Vegan and gluten-free.
Thick and creamy, warming and filling, this soup is perfect for a tasty lunch or light supper. It’s super easy to make and just happens to be vegan and gluten-free.
Sauteed buttery leeks and fluffy potatoes are cooked with fresh thyme and bay leaf then blended to make a thick and creamy comforting soup.
This soup takes a little longer than most of my soups but it is so worth it. Read on to see why.
What Do I Need?
- Leeks – You’ll need 3 medium leeks for this soup. Look for firm leeks that have as much white and light green as possible. Stalks should be crisp and firm. Select smaller leeks for the best taste. Avoid stalks that are withered or have yellowed tops.
- Potatoes – Go for a fluffy potato, Maris Piper or Russet potatoes if you are in the US work best. I always peel the potatoes for this soup.
- Vegetable Stock – To keep this soup vegan and gluten-free I use a vegan and gluten-free stock, of you can get a stock that is low sodium that’s great too.
- Herbs – I use fresh thyme and one dried bay leaf. They are delicate enough to not overpower the soup.
- Onion and Garlic – I also add onion and garlic to this recipe. You can skip the garlic if you want.
How to Make Leek and Potato Soup
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the chopped onion and celery and cook for a few minutes. Next, add the chopped leeks. You will need to cook these until they are soft and creamy, it will take about 30 minutes but it’s worth it.
- Next, add the potatoes.
- Now add the stock, bay leaf and thyme, and simmer until the potatoes are cooked. Once they’re cooked blend the soup.
Tips for Making the Best Leek and Potato Soup
- Make sure and give the leeks a good clean. Leeks are grown covered in loose soil so you can often find soil and grit in amongst the leaves. You can find a step by step guide here, on how to clean leeks.
- Gently saute the leeks and stir them often. Don’t let them go brown or burn!
- Use a floury potato, such as Maris Piper, for your soup. This will result in the best soup, waxy potatoes will result in a more gloopy soup.
- Don’t over blend the soup, this can result in the soup becoming gloopy. A quick blend done in quick pulses with a handheld blender is all it needs. If you have any lumpy potatoes left after that I would use a potato masher to mash them.
- This is a thick soup, if you prefer it to be thinner you can add more stock or a little water to loosen it up a bit. You can also add a tablespoon of your favourite vegan sour cream if you want to make it even creamier.
FAQs
Can You Freeze Leek and Potato Soup? Yes, you can. To freeze, wait for the soup to cool and then place in freezer bags or suitable containers and freeze. Use within 3 months. For best results defrost the soup in the fridge the night before then reheat on the hob. You may need to add a little water to loosen it up.
How Long Will This Soup Last For? This soup will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the hob until it is piping hot.
Do I Have to Blend this Soup? No, you don’t have to blend it, you can absolutely leave it as is.
Need More Tasty Lunch Ideas?
Have you made this Leek and Potato Soup Recipe? Rate it and leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!
Ingredients
- 3 medium leeks cleaned, slice the white and very pale green parts.
- 600 g potatoes (approx 2 cups in the US) peeled & cubed
- 1 onion peeled and finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1.4 litres of vegetable stock (2 pints) (gluten-free, vegan & low salt)
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 6-8 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 tbsp finely chopped chives optional
Instructions
- Remove the rough outer layer of the leeks, slice the leeks lengthways and open each leek like a fan, under a running tap let the water run through the layers for a minute or two to get rid of any grit or soil. Then slice the leeks using the white and some of the very pale green parts of the leeks.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the onion, celery and leeks, cook over medium for about 30 minutes until they are soft. Add the garlic and cook for a minute. Next add the potatoes, stock, thyme and bay leaf. Season with salt and black pepper, bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 minutes or until the potato is cooked.
- Using a handheld blender, blend the soup quickly, in quick pulses. Be careful not to over blend the soup.
- Serve immediately. Top with chopped chives if you wish.
Notes
- Leeks - thoroughly clean the leeks. Remove the rough outer layer of the leeks, slice the leeks lengthways and open each leek like a fan, under a running tap let the water run through the layers for a minute to get rid of any grit or soil.
- Potatoes - It's important to use the right potato for this soup. A floury potato is best, choose Maris Piper or Russets. Waxy potatoes will result in a gluey soup.
- Blending the soup - Use a hand-held blender, and blend the soup in brief pulses. Do not over blend the soup, this will result in a gloopy soup. If there are any lumps of potato left I would use a potato masher to break down the potato.
- Storing/Freezing/Reheating - Any leftover soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the soup on the hob until piping hot, you may need to add a little water to loosen it up a bit. You can freeze this soup, leave the soup to cool then transfer to suitable containers and freeze for up to 3 months. For best results, defrost in the fridge overnight then reheat on the hob until piping hot. Again, you may need to add a little water to loosen up the soup.
- Nutritional Information - is approximate and is calculated using an online nutrition tool. It is based on one serving.
- Measurements - I weigh all my ingredients using an electric scale, all measurements are metric. Cup measurements are approximate.
Nutrition
*This recipe was first posted , it has now been updated with new photos, nutritional information and expert tips.
What a delicious and comforting soup! Simple to put together and so healthy. With the pureed veggies, you don’t even miss the cream. Will definitely make again.
Love this recipe! It was super easy and so flavorful. I will definitely be making again!
Wow, I love that you can freeze this soup! Leek and potato might actually be my favourite soup ever, so I am definitely giving this a go 🙂
This soup is perfect for this cold weather! I love how comforting yet nutritious it is.
Love potato and leek soup and this looks so delicious and inviting! Saving the recipe to make it later this weekend.