So I was wondering -- why leeks ? [View all]

[eppur_se_muova]

I have a recipe for sweet potato soup that I like, but it requires starting with a leek. Classic leek and potato soup and cock-a-leekie also require leeks. But, aside from the pun potential, why leeks ? Won't something else work ? After Googling for answers, I came across this Web page: https://www.thespruceeats.com/leek-equivalents-measures-and-substitutions-1807468 Since I can't buy leeks at the store where I prefer to buy groceries, AND they're usually sold in bundles of three, I thought I'd try the suggestion of mild onions as a replacement. Strangely, the recipe I use includes leek, onion, celery, and even garlic, and after reading the substitution suggestions leek sounds almost absurdly redundant, so after this trio of leeks is gone I'm trying it leekless. Any better suggestions ? Warnings ?

(BTW, leeks come with a lot of the leaves attached, but I've never seen a recipe that doesn't discard them. Seems like a lot of waste, shipping all those leaves around the country/world when they're just discarded.)

(NB: Spellchecker can't handle "leekless". What slipshod quality!)