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TES Food::Potato Cheddar Soup

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Potato Cheddar Soup | 3.5/5

This dish is a staple at every farmstead and crofter's cottage across Skyrim. Simple but hearty, it gives a bone-deep warmth that better prepares anyone for the day's labors ahead, be they adventuring, tending a shop, or working the fields.

★★★☆☆ | Taste: 3.5/5

I'm fairly picky when it comes to creamy soups. Especially because there are some real bangers out there, like Le Cellier's Canadian cheddar cheese soup, Storytellers Cafe roasted corn chowder, and Paula Deen's potato soup. This was pretty good, but not enough to want to make it over say, the above examples.

★★☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable (if you cook the bacon first)

Medium prep: peeling and cubing potatoes, plus grating a decent amount of cheese makes this non-trivial

I want to give this a 3, but I can't. If it were only cubing potatoes, then I could have bumped it to a 3, but the need for an immersion blender (I'm sorry but you can't get the same result with a potato masher) ropes this recipe off from some people.

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

This is fairly economical, and your only real costs are coming from the dairy and bacon. If you exclude the bacon, it could be a 4

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TES Food::Double-Baked Potatoes

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Double-Baked Potatoes | 2.5/5

The humble potato is one of Skyrim's staple ingredients, found growing on every farm. Like many fruits and vegetables, potatoes store surprisingly well in barrels. While considered more practical than valuable and not good for much more than eating, this recipe makes them taste like they're worth their weight in Septims.

★★☆☆☆ | Taste: 2.5/5

I was really excited about these, as I loved twice-baked potatoes, but these just didn't have the flavor unfortunately. Just as the flavor is coming from cheese and salt, the rating for this is right at 50%, i.e. "just okay".

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

⏱ Quick prep: you're baking potatoes, and then mashing them once cooked with the remaining ingredients

Well, you're baking potatoes, which always takes a long time, so 1/2 off for that, and another 1/2 point off for having to scoop out the filling (be careful not to puncture the potato skin!)

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

Milk and cheese can be expensive in the states, despite it being cheap here in Europe. If I were purely rating this for Europe, then it would be a solid 4/5

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TES Food::Sweetrolls

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Sweetrolls | 4.5/5

Don't let anyone steal your sweetroll ever again. Instead of guarding your hard-won baked goods against bandits and that pesky Thieves Guild, now you can bake them in the quiet safety of your own home with no one the wiser.

★★★★☆ | Taste: 4.5/5

These are honestly amazing. Make them, and double the frosting.

★★★☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3.5/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable (if you exclude the bundt baking sheet)

🔪 Little prep: you're opening things, and then mixing them

I docked a 1/2 a point because it is a yeast dough, it takes 30 minutes to rise before baking. I docked another 1/2 point since it takes time to bake and then cool so you can put on the frosting. I docked a final 1/2 point because it can be a bit of a pain to remove the bundts from the mould, even if you've coated them

★★★★☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

Pretty much pantry staples here, except the yeast which costs pennies. Docked a point because it requires honey, and while that is a pantry staple, it's still not the cheapest thing ever.

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TES Food::Festival Hand Pies

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Festival Hand Pies | 2.5/5

These savory little hand pies are easily transported and easily eaten on the go, making them a common snack at festivals and other social gatherings throughout Skyrim. They are especially popular at the Fire Festival at the bard's college in Solitude. With a flaky crust and rich filling, it's a challenge to eat just one. Wash it down with a little of San's Spiced Wine, another local favorite.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Taste: 2.5/5

I figured with the chicken dumplings being as good as they were, that this should be just as good if not better, but they turned out to be just okay (a 2.5/5 is quite literally average, at 50%). There wasn't much flavor going on here, and it was quite dry considering everything that went into it, but I think I know what happened: rice with ground meat and cheese, plus a dough around them, lead to a lot of starchy taste kinda overpowering anything else going on. I never got a good hit of any particular ingredient; instead, everything was just kind of this mush. It's what I imagine mush bars in ONI must taste like quite honestly, except instead of a grisly taste, it's standard lol. I think if I got rid of the rice (or made pilafi instead), and swapped the cheddar for a cumin gouda or some other spiced cheese, it might actually be quite nice.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2/5

Medium-heavy prep: you need to make the dough, and then you are dirtying many things for this recipe my friend: the rice cooker (or pot), cutting board, knife, dough cutter, sauté pan, and potentially cookie sheet.

That said, for what it is, it's not the hardest dish to make. Stuffed-anything will always be more work than not stuffed.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

In the states, this is probably closer to a 1.5 or 2; not gonna lie, yall have some crazy food costs right now. But over here in Europe, meat is really the only serious cost, and it's still far more economical than back in the USA. Dairy is pretty cheap here too.

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TES Food::Sheogorath's Strawberry Tarts

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Sheogorath's Strawberry Tarts | 4.5/5

Wine in a fruit tart? That's madness! Or genius. Or perhaps a bit of both, because the line between the two is very narrow. The line of neighbors waiting for your summery dessert, however, will probably grow longer with time.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4.5/5

This was really good. Too good in fact, for what it was. It was creamy and sweet and tart without being overly anything. Will definitely make this again.

A note about this rating: I don't drink alcohol, and while I'm willing to use various cooking alcohols (mirin, sake, sherry, etc.), I will only purchase an alcohol for cooking if I know it will get used within a year. I will likely never find another use of port wine within a year to justify that kind of kitchen space usage, so I skipped the port wine ingredient. I'm guessing the rating would have been affected had I used the wine.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

Medium prep: I wish I could say it is easy prep. It's almost there! But you have to make a dough, and then you will be removing many strawberry stems and then slicing said strawberries thin. Sorry friends.

While it doesn't take a lot of time to make, unfortunately it is a fairy messy dish to make considering there are so few ingredients, as you're going to dirty a rolling pin, tart tin, mixing bowl, sifter, and pot.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

It's so close to being a 3, but rye flour isn't cheap, nor are strawberries. I have no idea what the price of port wine is, but that would bump up the cost as well.

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TES Food::Companions Meatball Bake

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Companions Meatball Bake | 3/5

This deceptively simple dish is a favorite among Whiterun's Companions, where it is always served in a round shape to symbolize their equality with one another. They fight together, drink together, and perhaps most importantly, feast together in the hall of Jorrvaskr. As the Companions are proficient hunters, these meatballs might be made of whatever has been freshly caught, be it bear, venison, boar, mammoth, or what have you.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

This really shouldn't be above a 2, as it's really not all that good, and yet there's something strangely addicting about it. It's not a flavor bomb, but it still has enough flavor to keep you interested. I think it's the texture of the meatballs combined with the potatoes. I personally prefer things to be on the more mealy/mushy side, and that's kinda what's happening here. So really, take my rating with a grain of salt, as there's a high chance this doesn't make the cut for you. And by that, I mean falling to a 1.5/5!

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

Medium prep: you're shaping meatballs, and cutting up potatoes.

I wanted to give this a 2, but it's really not that difficult all things considered. It's annoying to make because you're dirtying multiple large items, and using the oven for everything in multiple parts. For example: the potatoes are first roasted half-way, and later get re-baked with the meatballs in a separate dish.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3/5

I want to give this a 3.5, but the price of meat these days just aint what it used to be. Everything else is very economical however, and so it barely escapes a 2.5. Beef is expensive, yes; however, it shouldn't knock a dish that much just because meat got introduced: it's not like it's caviar or anything.

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TES Food::S'jirra's Famous Potato Bread

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

S'jirra's Famous Potato Bread | 3.5/5 4/5

The strange Khajiit S'jirra is the only one that sells her Famous Potato Bread to those who encounter her at the Faregyl Inn. But because wheat is in such high demand in Skyrim, many Nords have adopted this recipe that adds potato to stretch out the supply of flour. This results in a light flatbread that is delicious fresh from the oven and slathered with butter.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 3.5/5 4/5

! Update 11/12/25 - made this again and bumped the rating from a 3.5 -> 4. Didn't have savory the first time it was made and only had thyme, but this time I found it (it's bohnenkraut in German), and boy did it add such a delicious savory flavor. It's honestly worth trying to find savory instead of using a substitute like thyme!

It's good, especially textually if you like kinda soft/mushy like I do. But flavor-wise, there isn't much going on here. With the savory herb, there is plenty of poppin flavor! Probably need to double the Imperial Seasoning (as usual lol). I really need to make this bread again, because I feel like the first time it wasn't really done properly. When I make it again, there's a good chance the rating will change, so I'll come back in an edit and update the post. Yep: savory made all the difference. Worth it.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

Medium-heavy prep: breads might look ornate, but they are some of the easiest things you can make a lot of times. The fact is, this is really just mashed potatoes masquerading around as bread, which means making mashed potatoes.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

It's legit just potatoes, and russets at that, which are the cheapest anyways), and then stuff you already have in your pantry. When bread gets expensive, it's usually because you need to buy specialty flours, but this is just good ole' AP.

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TES Food::Coastal Clam Chowder

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Coastal Clam Chowder | 2/5

Nordic barnacles, clams, oysters, mudcrabs, and a variety of fish are often included in this chowder, depending on the catch of the day. Unsurprisingly, it's a popular staple in coastal cities such as Solitude and Winterhold, where every inn and tavern has a steaming cauldron of chowder going in the kitchen.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Taste: 2/5

I'm a decent fan of clam chowder, but this just misses the mark for me. It was overly liquidy rather than, you know: chowder-y. And being liquidy means chunks don't stick together when eating to form a cohesive bite. Instead, it feels like the individual ingredients are floating around in your mouth. As a result, they probably should have used cornstarch instead of flour to thicken.

I was greatly reminded of the scene in Two Towers (extended, of course) where Aragorn is eating Éowyn's "soup" xD.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3.5/5

Medium prep: it claims it's 5 minute prep, but now I realize it assumes you've already done the actual prep of peeling and cutting up the ingredients, and that you're just left to put things in the pot.

Overall however, for a soup dish, this really isn't that bad. There aren't all that many ingredients, and the recipe is straightforward.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

It's pretty cheap for a "seafood" soup. Tinned clams are always a bargain, and really the cost is going into the bacon and leek. Fish broth is pretty mid, price-wise. Otherwise, the rest of the ingredients are staples.

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TES Food::Orsimer Venison

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Orsimer Venison | 4.5/5

Because of their tight-knit tribal communities, the Orsimer cook many communal meals where a large central dish is shared among many individuals. This recipe is a prime example of such a meal, especially as venison is one of their staple ingredients, being plentiful around their scattered strongholds.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4.5/5

Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys. I know this doesn't look amazing, but it *tastes* amazing; I promise. Soy-glazed meats with ginger are always going to dance on your taste buds. Cook the meat using a velveting technique, and you'll be in heaven.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

🔪 Little prep: slice up that garlic and ginger, and cube the meats. Mise en place the rest and you're good to go

For a meat dish, this is quite simple. You're cooking the meat ahead of time, and then finishing it in the sauce

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

Well, meat's expensive, but that's really the only cost here. The rest are pantry staples except perhaps ginger, which is very affordable. I didn't have access to venison the first time I made this, so I used pork instead (also a cheaper meat!).

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TES Food::Nord Mead

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Nord Mead | ?/5

Like all meads made at home rather than at the commercial meaderies, this recipe varies from clan to clan, village to town. But all Nords agree that it has to have certain characteristics: warming, heavy on the spices, and refreshing.

☆☆☆☆☆ | Taste: ?/5

I don't feel like I have the right to rate this, as personally I'd give it a 1. But that's because I loathe the taste of alcohol, and I cannot stand carbonation. I will tell you though, I won't be making any of the other quick meads.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 2.5/5

⏱ Quick prep: grate an orange, and that's all there is to prep

🔪 Little prep: there’s virtually no prep, outside of the grating of the orange

The prep itself is easy, as you're just boiling water and mixing honey. But having to wait 2 weeks is what knocks the score by multiple points

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

I'm pretty conflicted with rating this; on one hand, it's very cost effective, as most people already have the ingredients, except for the ale yeast and orange, which are very economical. On the other hand though, I've made other drinks that require fewer ingredients, and less cost than this.

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TES Food::Oatmeal Raisin Shortbread

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Oatmeal Raisin Shortbread | 3/5

Sometimes the simplest recipes can be the most rewarding. While variations can be found across Skyrim, this particular recipe comes from a little fishing cottage outside of Winterhold. Sweet and buttery, these little iced shortbreads are a perfect pick-me-up in the morning or in the afternoon with a cup of tea. These shortbreads can be cut into any shape you desire from simple circles, squares, and triangles to more adventurous concepts. If you're feeling creative, try your hand at creating shapes such as a snow bear, or even Alduin the World Eater.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

It tastes fine. It's too sweet for me personally. I think it could be better if it had more of a buttery flavor. I think the lack of salt hurts it as well. The icing is delicious, but there's just too much sugar in the base dough, I find.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

⏱ Quick prep: you're just blending ingredients into a single bowl, which total time I estimate took me under 5 minutes

🔪 Little prep: there's virtually no prep, outside of softening the butter if you keep yours cold like me

The major consequence here comes from having to portion the cookies. I suppose this would have been easier if I had a cookie cutter, but then again, the raisins would get in the way. Just cutting the cookies out took me easily 10-15 minutes, and given that the dough is crumbly, it meant having to press crumbs into the rest of the dough

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3/5

For the most part, this dish is cheap and has readily available pantry staples. The little price-gotchas are the heavy cream, *real* maple syrup or honey, and the spices to make the Nord Spices. In general, your standard chocolate chip cookie (even if it has nuts!) is cheaper than this is.

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TES Food::Cheese Scones

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Cheese Scones | 3.5/5

While scones are often considered a breakfast item, their versatility makes them prime candidates for meals later in the day, especially when given a slightly more savory touch. Feel free to try this recipe with different types of cheese. Eidar and mammoth cheeses are popular in Skyrim, while more adventurous folk can experiment with scuttle from Morrowind made from the flesh of local beetles but similar to cheese. These flaky treats are delicious still warm from the oven and dripping with fresh butter.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3.5/5

It's tasty enough, but I generally find cheese breads don't pack enough cheesy-flavor, or they are too greasy, or the cheese is really just a crunchy-texture thing instead of a flavor thing (my preference). I think depending on the type of cheese you make with this, will determine how delicious they actually are, but I stick with the recipe first. The recipe calls for cheddar, but no aged duration for cheddar will make flavors pop in your mouth imo.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

Medium prep: for a baked good, this isn't too bad. The only real prep work is dealing with the dough (because ofc it is). You do need to do some folding to create layers, so it's not like a bread where you make a giant ball and shove it in some heat and call it done.

⭑⭑☆☆☆ | Cost to Make: 2.5/5

I think for a bread, and especially for how basic this tastes, this recipe is not all that economical. Mustard powder isn't breaking the bank, but it's also something one doesn't usually carry in the cupboard. Buttermilk and aged cheddar/parm blocks also aren't exactly the cheapest things either.

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TES Food::Apple Cabbage Stew

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Apple Cabbage Stew | 3/5

The Imperials prefer a version of this dish that uses red cabbage, which they say is sweeter, but true Nords are unwavering in their affection for this traditional recipe. It produces a richly flavored broth that is both nutritious and delicious, despite the limited ingredient list.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Taste: 3/5

Pretty decent, considering how simple the ingredients are. It can get a little tiring as it makes a lot, but it is interesting in flavor for sure. The apples aren't too sweet, and then cabbage + chicken broth aren't too salty. It balances pretty well overall.

⭑⭑⭑☆☆ | Cooking Ease: 3/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

Medium prep: even though everything needs to be cut thin, leeks don't take too long thankfully, and cabbage isn't too bad either. Unfortunately, the apples do require dicing, and apples can be a bit of a pain to deal with.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

This is a pretty economical dish that makes a lot, where a single leek won't break the bank, and you can opt for cheaper apples since they are going to be cooked anyways (e.g. red delicious over envy)

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TES Food::Redguard Rice

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Redguard Rice | 4.5/5

Redolent with rich spices, this dish is prepared in a single pot, making it a great candidate for cooking on the road. It is, at its heart, a very traditional Redguard recipe, although it can be easily tweaked and improved based on locally available ingredients.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Taste: 4.5/5

This is honestly one of my favorite things to eat from this cookbook. It's super easy to make, and absolutely bonkers on flavor. Plus, your house will smell incredible afterwards. Get a fatty piece of meat for this (or chuck) and you'll have a beautiful mouthfeel of super opposite-of-dry going on. Wild rice is also a must! You need the rich flavor, plus the slight crunch for everything to harmonize properly. I only dock a 1/2 point because it's missing that extra little bit of oomph for me.

🚩If you're one of those people who doesn't like cinnamon spiced meats, you're probably not going to like this tbh. It's not that there's too much cinnamon, so much as the coriander seeds make the cinnamon flavor really pop. Still, I would recommend at least trying this as-is, without changing the spice quantities, unless you absolutely hate cinnamon anywhere, anytime.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cooking Ease: 4.5/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

⏱ Quick prep

🔪 Little prep: dice the onion and you're good to go. Large chop into quarters and put it in a food processor to make it even easier.

⭑⭑⭑⭑☆ | Cost to Make: 4/5

The lamb and wild rice are the only expensive items, but you can totally swap out lamb for the cheaper alternative that is ground beef CHUCK. You got that? CHUCK (80% lean, 20% fat) NOT LEAN (90%+ lean). You need the extra fat for the mouthfeel; otherwise this dish gets docked at least half a point

Obviously lamb and beef don't at all taste the same, and while I prefer lamb any day over beef, it really doesn't change the rating for me. But that's because the star of this dish isn't the meat to begin with.

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TES Food::Argonian Swamp Shrimp Boil

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Argonian Swamp Shrimp Boil | 2.5

While not much from the Argonian kitchen is palatable to other races, a few dishes have proven wildly popular even with the Altmer, although you'd be hard pressed to get them to admit as much. The Argonians prefer to make this recipe using swamp shrimp from the Black Marshes, but in a pinch, the northern varieties of prawn caught off the coast of Skyrim will do.

★★☆☆☆ | Taste: 2.5/5

The first time this was made, it was too watery. The 2nd time, it was cooked longer to reduce more, and it ended up being entirely too salty. Either way, there are better ways to boil shrimp that have more distinct flavors aside from sweet and salty.

Note: I have no idea what those dried chili looking pieces are in the book's photo. The ingredients don't call for any large solids.

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable

⏱ Quick prep time: assuming you bought deveined shrimps, it is quick to assemble the various spices and condiments

🔪 Little prep: there is virtually no prep, as all you need to do is is open some containers and pour!

Point removed due to the time it takes to reduce the sauce

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

Shrimp is the cheapest seafood that I know besides canned tuna. But it's still pricier solely for being seafood. That said, the rest of the ingredients are mostly pantry staples, with heavy cream being the other slightly costly ingredient.

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TES Food::Meadow Rye Bread

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Meadow Rye Bread | 4/5

This easy bread makes a flavorful accompaniment to any soup but is especially good with creamy varieties. These loaves can commonly be found in tavern kitchens, where their quick baking time means more satisfied customers.

★★★★☆ | Taste: 4/5

This actually is incredibly easy to make for a baked item, and makes for a great crusty bread. The inside is still soft, with a wonderful thick crunchy exterior. I couldn't find currants, so I used dried cranberries with 0% added sugar instead.

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

🥣 Single-pot cookable ⏱ Quick prep time: You combine ingredients, knead for a few minutes, and then immediately pop it in the oven

🔪 Little prep: opening bags of things is all that's really needed here, and then the kneading of course

I docked a point because, well, it's a baked good. They take time to bake

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3/5

Unfortunately, at least where I was at, rye flour is a specialty flour, and so that isn't cheap. Buttermilk is cheaper if you make it yourself, but most will opt to pay the extra price for pre-made buttermilk. While not expensive, it's certainly also not cheap, and it doesn't last as long as normal milk either. And for some frustrating reason, they always sell buttermilk sizes that end up being way more than you need, and so you pay for something you end up tossing 9/10 times.

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TES Food::Grilled Leeks

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

Grilled Leeks | 2.5/5

Although leeks can be a little finicky to grow, it's no wonder they thrive around all the riverlands in Skyrim. This rugged vegetable is popular in stews and savory pies, but it is also delicious in its own right and can often be spied gracing the tables of the rich and poor alike.

★★☆☆☆ | Taste: 2.5/5

I was conflicted with this one: is it a 2.5, or a 3? Normally, 2.5 is just "meh", as it perfectly straddles the line of "ew" and "yum." While this recipe is super basic and kinda "meh," there's also something strangely addicting about it. But that's likely my bias towards leeks coming out; I do love me some leek!

★★★★☆ | Cooking Ease: 4/5

⏱ Quick prep + cook time: you're boiling leeks for 5 minutes, and then pan frying them

🔪 Little prep: cutting the leeks and grating a little amount of cheese is the only real prep necessary

I docked a point because it dirties both a pot and pan ;(

★★★☆☆ | Cost to Make: 3.5/5

Leeks and cheese are cheap in Europe, but this has not been my experience back in the USA. While parmesan is usually a more affordable cheese in the states, I would say you should opt for the highest aged cheese you can afford for this dish. The leeks like tomatoes are salt suckers, and so you want that hit of salt crystal from a longer aged parm. Plus it adds a nice texture