Leeks "yahni" with mushrooms and potatoes

A beautiful combination of ingredients giving us a delicious vegetarian dish for the whole family. Simple ingredients which, though, turn out into a hearty and filling meal. If you can find fresh, wild mushrooms definitely they are the best choice because they are always tastier. Don't hesitate to use different types of mushrooms in this dish for extra flavour. The bay leaf can be replaced by rosemary or sage in this recipe. Each herb gives its own distinctive aroma and taste but both go well with the leeks

Adapted from a recipe of Evi Voutsina,

"Gastronomos" magazine of "KATHIMERINI" newspaper (2009)



Ingredients (for 4 people):

1 tea-cup of olive oil
2 large yellow onions, grated
6 large leeks (the white and the tender green part), cut in thick rings
4 medium potatoes, cut in medium chunks
600gr. of mushrooms of your choice (preferably fresh)
1 1/2 tea-cup of tomatoes concassé
a pinch of sugar (optional -my addition)
1/2 glass of white dry wine (optional -my addition)
3 bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp of whole allspice berries
salt
pepper

Method:
Cut the mushrooms according to their size· if using the large portobello discard the skin from their tops and cut into medium pieces. If using the small white mushrooms, cut the large ones in half and leave the smaller ones whole.

In a shallow and wide pot warm half the oil on medium heat and sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes stirring with a wooden spoon.

Add the leeks, the mushrooms and the potatoes and sauté for another 1-2 minutes stirring with the spoon and seasoning immediately with some salt and pepper. Pour over with the wine (if used) and allow the alcohol to evaporate.

Add in the pot the tomatoes, the sugar (if used), the rest of the oil, the bay leaves and the allspice and in the end fill with enough warm water to cover the vegetables.

Cover with the lid and cook on medium heat for about 35-45 minutes or until the potatoes and the leeks are tender and the food is left with its nice oil/tomato sauce.

Check the seasoning and serve immediately.