My favorite vegan potato leek soup recipe features tender potatoes, mellow flavored leeks and simple herbs made healthy and easy!
This vegan potato leek soup is made with only 6 ingredients (plus a few basics). It’s made without cream, is low-fat with an oil-free option, and ready in a quick 30 minutes!
When you’re looking for an easy weeknight meal, this creamy one-pot vegan soup brimming with potatoes and leeks is a comforting, cozy meal, and pairs well with this Vegan Ceaser Salad on the side. It’s also great for meal prepping, and freezes well too!
Best Potato Leek Soup Ingredients
Potatoes: My favorite potatoes for this soup is Yukon gold potatoes, but russet potatoes work too. Feel free to peel your potatoes, especially if you want an ultra creamy soup. Leaving the skin on does have its nutritional benefits, but may not blend up as smooth. But if you’re like me, a little chunkiness is welcome!
Leeks: Use 3 medium sized leeks, or 2 large , using the white and light green parts only. When prepping leeks be sure to rinse them well under cool running water to remove any sand or dirt that has become lodged between the leek sheaths. Here’s a handy visual guide on How To Cut & Clean Leeks. Healthy Tip: When sauteing the leeks use water instead of oil to make an oil-free soup.
Herbs: I used dried thyme, but a few fresh sprigs would be great too. I’ve also made this soup with one of my favorite herb blends for soup, herbes de provence, that is fantastic as well. You also find this herb in my Potato, Leek & White Bean Soup. And don’t forget adding a little parsley to the soup before serving, it adds a bright, fresh flavor!
Liquids: Use vegetable broth, water or a combo of the two. Tip: For the most flavor, using all vegetable broth will yield the most flavorful broth.
How To Make Vegan Potato Leek Soup
- Saute: Start with the leeks by sauteing them for 7 – 10 minutes. When ready, they’ll be soft and tender. Tip: Make sure to keep an eye on the temperature so they don’t burn.
- Simmer: Now we bring it all together by adding the potatoes, herbs, bay leaves, liquids and salt, let simmer for 15 minutes. Will be ready when potatoes are soft and tender.
- Puree: Finally, soup is done! Either eat as is (as shown below left), or puree your soup (below right) using an immersion blender or food processor. Feel free to find that happy medium between chunky and smooth!
Serve topped with crispy chickpea croutons and chopped fresh parsley, and pair with your favorite crusty artisan bread, naan or gluten-free Socca Flatbread to soak up the juices.
How Long Will Leftovers Keep?
Leftovers will keep for 5 – 6 days in the refrigerator, stored in a covered container. Simply re-warm on the stovetop or the microwave. It makes a great meal prep for the week with homemade no knead bread or Naan on the side for soaking up the juices.
Can You Freeze Potato Leek Soup?
Yes, it freezes well for up to 2 months! My favorite way to freeze this soup is in individual small containers that are freezer safe. That way whenever I want to cozy up with a bowl of warm soup I can just pull it from the freezer and warm it up. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags or containers.
This Potato Leek Soup is:
- dairy free
- gluten free
- low fat
- healthy
- & super easy to make
Looking for more ways to use potatoes or leeks? See all Potato and Leek recipes on TSV, you may find a new favorite!
If you try this vegan soup recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintCREAMY VEGAN POTATO LEEK SOUP
Simple and hearty, vegan potato leek soup is blended to creamy smoothness and ready in 30 minutes! Recipe adapted from Simply Recipes.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4 1x
- Category: Entree, Soup
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water (for water saute)
- 3 medium leeks (use white and light green parts only)
- 2 1/2 lbs. potatoes, cubed 1/2 inch (peeled or with skin on)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme or Herbes de provence
- 4 cups water or low-sodium vegetable broth
- mineral salt, to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley, to garnish
Instructions
Prep: Leeks, start by removing and discarding the root ends and thick dark green parts. Cut the leeks in half lengthwise and rinse each half under cold water, pulling apart the layers to remove any sand or debris nestled inside, slice the leeks crosswise. Alternatively, slice the leeks, then put in a colander and wash well under running water. Should yield 4 – 5 cups. Cut potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes. Feel free to peel the potatoes or leave the skin on (I left the skin on).
Saute: In a large dutch oven or pot, heat the oil/water over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and wilted, about 10 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary so as not to brown the leeks.
Simmer: Add the potatoes, broth, bay leaves, herbs, salt to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
Puree: Remove the bay leaves, and puree the soup using a hand-held immersion blender until smooth. Alternatively, use a regular blender to puree the soup in batches. Taste for seasoning.
Serve: Serve warm with chopped parsley, crispy chickpea croutons and a side of crusty artisan bread.
Store: Soup can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in an airtight container. It’s also freezer friendly and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours or so and reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until warm.
NOTES:
If using a regular blender to puree the soup, fill the blender cup no more than halfway and leave the hole in the lid open to let any heat escape. May take two batches.
Tina says
Big fan of this recipe. Thank you for providing one without a bunch of coconut cream or blended cashews; sometimes vegetables really can stand alone, without a bunch of added fat, and be hearty and delicious.
I had one mega-leek (like 45 cm long!) and four pretty hefty yukon gold potatoes. I added three cloves of garlic and used fresh thyme. After realizing that I accidentally added too much water, I actually included a cup of dried green lentils, knowing that I was going to blend them anyway. I like that they give the soup a protein boost. Actually, thinking about it, it seems like I’ve almost made your leek, potato, and white bean soup? Lol, whatever, it was delicious, and I wouldn’t have arrived at something so tasty without your framework.
I ended up with about 3.5 liters of soup and since I’m only feeding myself, I’m stoked these will keep in the freezer, ready to warm me throughout the season.
Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
Thank you Tina for the great comment and inspiration! I think you’ve inspired me to make another version of this using lentils. I usually make my pureed soup with red lentils, but green would be amazing too. Enjoy the remaining soup and the season! Cheers :)
Pixie says
This is amazing and super easy to make!!! Thank you so much for this, Julie!!!
★★★★★
Becca says
I usually do recipes exactly as they are the first time and then tweak from there to our taste with spices and such, but I so rarely start without any onion or garlic? Do you find them too overpowering for the other ingredients? Is there a health-related reason? I’m really not trying to be disrespectful in any way, I’ve just never started a soup without either, so was wondering if it is a flavour thing and I’m ruining delicate flavours in other soups that I make.
Thank you!
Becca
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
Hi Becca, the leeks are in the onion family, just a mildly flavored onion. They are so wonderful and I love using them in recipes whenever I can. As for the garlic, you can add a couple cloves of minced garlic if you like. I just didn’t add it here as I think it’s fine without it, but it definitely won’t hurt and will add another layer of flavor. Enjoy the soup, it’s so good. I think you’re going to love cooking with leeks! :)
Carla says
Perfect for the holiday weekend. I made this to take to a family gathering and everyone loved it. I also took your vegan french onion dip. Got rave reviews. :)
★★★★★
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
What a great recipe to share with everyone! so glad it was a hit. Cheers :)
Renee says
You always create yummy soups! I’m going to make this one this week. I’m making roasted chickpeas now, and also the carrot and sweet potato soup.
I love how you explain the hows of what you do, including your beautiful photos.
Could you please make a vegan onion soup recipe? Thank you!
★★★★★
Julie | The Simple Veganista says
Thank you Renee! I ❤️ soups.
I would love to work on an onion soup, thanks so much for the suggestion – sounds yummy!
Enjoy your soup and roasted chickpeas! Cheers :)