Scroll down for the link to my new YouTube video of Emily in Paris Magic Leek Soup recipe! 👇🏼
I love doing a little detox in January! It feels so healthy after all the rich and sugary foods of the holidays. So when my husband and I were watching… um, excuse me… binging on Emily in Paris season 2, I perked up during episode 4. There’s a brief mention of Magic Leek Soup. Apparently, it’s a simple weight loss trick French women have been using for generations.
I remembered reading about it in Mireille Guiliano’s book French Women Don’t Get Fat years ago. I dug around my cookbook library and found it!!! Hmmm… perfect timing! I love doing a little healthy detox at the beginning of the year.
OMG… it’s soooo BORING!!! Seriously. To make it simply boil 2 pounds of leeks in water and salt the broth lightly. 🤨 I knew I had to give it an Emily Cooper makeover. So here it is…
How to make Emily in Paris Magic Leek Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds leeks- white parts and light green
- 1 tablespoon butter (or olive oil)
- 1 onion- diced
- 2 parsnips (or carrots)- washed, peeled, and diced
- 2 cloves garlic- sliced
- 5 celery stalks- diced
- fresh parsley- garnish
- 1 lemon
- water
Instructions
After removing the dark green leaves and roots of the leeks, cut them long ways and wash them thoroughly. Dirt hides in them terribly. Many times you can’t see the dirt because it gets so deep into the layers.
Heat the butter (or olive oil) in a large soup pot over medium heat. When the butter has melted, and the diced onion, parsnips, and celery.
Cook them until they’re browned.
Add garlic slices and stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes. Put leeks into the large pot and cover with water.
Reserve the greens for soup stock.
After the soup comes to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes uncovered. Taste and season with a squeeze of lemon juice, and a little salt and pepper if needed.
Strain the liquid, reserve the leeks, add chopped parsley, and a squeeze of lemon. You can even eat the leeks on their own with a little extra virgin olive oil and lemon.
Enjoy!
Magic Leek Soup YouTube Video
Take Aways from French Women Don’t Get Fat
Even though I think the recipe for Magical leek soup is tres naitre (very boring) in Guiliano’s book, I did enjoy the book quite a lot.
The biggest pearls of wisdom I gleaned from it were:
- French women WALK EVERYWHERE
- Eat anything you want… in moderation
- Keep portions small
- Stay away from processed foods
- Butter is not the enemy. Too much of (Fat + Sugar + Carbs) is the enemy.
This is my version of #2: A bite of our local Joe Sippers’ Sip Chip cookies with a little Emily in Paris Magic Leek Soup!
Other Detox Options
I did like this Magic Leek Soup. It’s very mild and has a very subtle onion flavor to it. So if you don’t onions or if you want a soup with a more robust flavor try this Detox Cabbage Soup. It’s still my favorite.
Another tasty drink loaded with antioxidants is this Turmeric Tonic with lemon, honey, and a secret key ingredient. Yeah, I know the picture totally blows the secret. 😂
Regardless of which way you choose to enjoy the new year, I hope 2023 is a happy and healthy one for you and your loved ones all year long!
More Soups You’ll Love!
Emily in Paris Magic Leek Soup
In season 2 of Emily in Paris there is a brief mention of Magic Leek Soup. Apparently, it's a simple weight loss trick French women have been using for generations. I kicked up the flavor profile but kept the calories to a minium. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds leeks whites only, remove roots & greens
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 medium parsnips washed, peeled, diced
- 2 garlic cloves sliced
- 5 medium celery stalks diced
- 1 lemon juiced
- 12 cups water
Instructions
-
After removing the dark green leaves and roots of the leeks, cut them long ways and wash them thoroughly. Dirt hides in them terribly. Many times you can't see the dirt because it gets so deep into the layers.
-
Heat the olive oil (or butter) in a large soup pot over medium heat.
-
After the butter has melted, brown the diced onion, parsnips, and celery.
-
Add garlic slices and stir to combine. Cook for 3 minutes.
-
Put leeks into the large pot and cover with water.
-
After the soup comes to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes uncovered. Taste and season with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a little salt and pepper if needed.
-
Strain the liquid, reserve the leeks, add chopped parsley, and a squeeze of lemon. You can even eat the leeks on their own with a little extra virgin olive oil and lemon.
Recipe Video
And the lemon juice goes in – when?
Great catch, Liz! Thanks. It goes in at the very end. I’ll make a note of that in the recipe. 🙂
Lemon always goes in the end, else direct heat make it bitter in taste.
Yes, you are quite right!
Butter is mentioned in the recipe. Is that supposed to be olive oil?
Hi Mihaela! Yes and yes 🙂 When I’m browning vegetables I use butter and olive oil interchangeably. I’ve made the soup both ways and you can’t tell the difference. In the post, I use butter as the primary with olive oil as an option and vice versa in the recipe at the bottom of the post.
Thank you for catching this. I’ve adjusted both the post and the recipe to make them both a little clearer. 😊
what happens with the parsnips, onion, garlic and celery after straining? are these to be eaten alongside the leeks?
Great question, Christina. I recommend discarding them. They’ve released their flavors into the broth so there’s not much flavor left in them.
Great simple recipe ♥️
Does this soup help with temporary weight loss or it’s for a long time?
And How many days we are allowed to drink/eat it as it’s antioxidant.
Hi Jyoti, This soup helps with both since it has lots of nutrients and is very hydrating while helping the body flush away toxins. You can drink it as often as you like as part of a balanced diet. I’ll drink it throughout the day (especially in January) and then enjoy a sensible dinner in the evening. Always listen to your body and pay attention to any feelings that make you uncomfortable as well as anything that feels good.
Thank you for this recipe, I am very keen to try it out as I simply cannot eat the original Leek soup in Mireille’s book again! I’ve done it a couple of times over the years and it really works but the thought of having it again makes my nauseous! I really hope this soup of yours is an improvement! Otherwise I will check out your cabbage soup. 😉
Hi Helen! Let me know what you think about this recipe and what (if any) changes you make. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
leek soup is oneo f the best way to loss weight. A study conducted at Texas Baylor College of Medicine found that consuming soup before a meal reduces hunger and helps you consume fewer calories, therefore helping you lose weight. This research suggests that people who eat soup have less appetite and lose weight than those who don’t.
leek soup for weight loss
This is hilarious. Butter? The whole point of the magic leek soup IS that it is boring. Part of the magic of it is denying your body fats etc… so it can reset and the mild diuretic effect of leeks can actually do their magic. If you read the book she also talks about seasonality and breaking the habit of demanding everything all the time. I hope nobody uses this “upgraded” recipe expecting the same results. I’m sure it’s delicious – how could it not be – but completely misses the point. As a boring leek soup acolyte myself I can tell you how amazing food tastes after a real reset.
Hi JC, Thank you for taking time to comment on my little blog. I really appreciate that you’re “sure it’s delicious” 🙂 however, I humbly and respectfully disagree with you. 1 tablespoon of butter (optional) that is mostly cooked off by the time it’s deluded with 12+ cups of water will not disrupt any health benefits. One of the beautiful things about healthy cooking is that it CAN and SHOULD be a delight to eat. Onions, celery, parsley, garlic, and lemon not only add flavor but they also contain a host of other nutrients.
The wonderful thing about cooking at home is that ultimately what you choose to cook with is always your choice. Please enjoy this recipe with or without the butter. Honestly, it’s not a major factor in the recipe and neither is the olive oil. Lol I’m so happy you’ve enjoyed the book and that you’ve found joy in your leek soup. ❤️ Finding joy and happiness your kitchen is one of life’s most beautiful blessings!
Hi! I’m curious why you opt to remove the dark green parts of the leeks? Not a leek expert so really just curious!
The dark green leek leaves are tough and not as tasty as the tender light green and white portions.