Garlic scape
Garlic scapes are vegetable and herb curled into one. You can use them where you’d use garlic cloves or scallions: in salads or omelettes, on top of pizza, pureed into dips or soups, or chopped into guacamole. You can also use them the same way you might use green beans or asparagus in stir fries, pickles, tempura, on the grill or in the roasting pan. You don’t need specific recipes for garlic scapes. You can just work them into some of your favorite dishes. But if you’re looking for ideas, here are some intriguing recipes I’ve come across. I haven’t tried them all yet. If you do, leave some comments to let me know which ones you like.
Articles and Recipe Collections for Garlic Scapes
A Garlic Festival Without a Single Clove
Scapes: Little Known Gems are Stalks of Garlic
How to Use Garlic Scapes and Shoots in Recipes
The Garlic Scape: Eat it or Wear It (From Moscow Food Co-op)
Garlic Scapes (some lovely photos too):
Soups, Sauces, Dips, and other Scape Recipes
Double Garlic Soup (calls for green garlic. Maybe I’ll have that for sale next year. Meanwhile, you could probably substitute a few more scapes, some garlic cloves, or some scallions).
White Bean and Garlic Scape Dip
Daphne’s Garlic Scape Dressing
Orzo Pasta Risotto with Forest Mushrooms and Garlic Scapes
Confit of Lamb and Garlic Scapes with Preserved Lemons and Watercress
Chard Stalks and Garlic Scape Pasta
Scape Pestos
Pestos are one of the more popular uses for garlic scapes. A pure garlic scape pesto can be pretty garlicky. If you like your garlic more subtle, you can mix in herbs (parsley, basil, cilantro, and mint are all good options) or greens (chard, spinach) or squeeze in a bit of lemon. As with any pesto, you can vary the amount and kinds of oil, nuts and cheese too. Here are some basic recipes to play with:
Garlic Scape and Almond Pesto (you could use any nut)
Garlic Scape Pesto with Hazelnuts
Garlic Scape Pesto with Pumpkin Seeds
Garlic Scape, Parsley, and Basil Pesto
Where to Find Garlic Scapes
Farmers’ Markets are likely to have them in early summer. We’ll be selling ours at the Joseph Farmers’ Market on Saturday, July 2.