What In The World Is A Garlic Scape And How Do I Use It?

You’ve heard of garlic. You’ve used it. You love it!

But when you add the word “scape” at the end of garlic, you’re confused.

What the heck is a garlic scape?

I totally understand. Garlic scapes are not something I’d ever heard of until I got into farming.

They look like this:

And they are the flowering tops of hard neck garlic plants before they’re ready to harvest. They grow out of the top of the garlic plant and curl over in their own unique cute way, full of the same beautiful blue-green characteristic to all plants in the allium (onion) family.

We snap them off so that the plant can give more energy to producing a nice big bulb of garlic to harvest in early August.  If you're a home gardener growing hard neck garlic, you can do the same thing, too!  Just look for when they start to curl over and then snap them off with as much "scape" as possible.

Plus, they’re a special seasonal taste of our garlic crop that comes early! Yay!

So let’s get started!

Garlic scape basics

Garlic scapes are long, skinny, curly, green, and taste like garlic. Yum!

Garlic scapes can be used just like garlic, in most cases. Double Yum!

And our CSA members love garlic scapes.  Many often ask how they can buy more than is in the CSA share!

The only word of caution I have in using garlic scapes is that they are kind of “tough” if you don’t mince them up fine or use a food processor. Big chunks will be crunchy in texture, more than garlic itself.  They do soften up nicely when cooked, but need some careful mincing when used raw.

To prepare your garlic scapes:

Look at your garlic scapes.  Most of the scape is perfectly round in cross-section, but at one end there is a tapering tail.  This tail is more tough and fibrous and is best discarded.  Now wash and chop as desired for your recipe.

Here's a picture of where to cut to discard the tough tip.

To store your garlic scapes:

Garlic scapes keep really well in the fridge. Just make sure the moisture is maintained on them to keep them from getting floppy from dehydration. I usually store them in a plastic bag to accomplish this. They should keep for weeks in your fridge when stored properly.

4 great ways to use garlic scapes 

#1 in Stir-fries

Use as you would garlic in stir fries, chopped finely and added in towards the end.

#2 in Soups

Use as you would garlic in soups! Yum!

#3 in Salad dressings

Use as you would garlic in salad dressings, making sure to finely mince up your garlic scapes and emulsify well.

#4 in a feature recipe!

This is the most exciting part!!!  Of course pesto (below) is a big go-to for me!  

BUT, I have a new and interesting favorite to top them all this year!  Check out the recipe for blistered garlic scapes below.  It's out of this world good.  

With six adults at the table this week, each one rated it 5/5 stars!  Plus the leftovers went perfectly in an omlet for breakfast the next morning with goat cheese.

Blistered Garlic Scapes

• ¼ pound garlic scapes, chopped into 3” pieces
• 2 TBLS cooking oil
• ¼ - ½ tsp salt

Heat oil on medium in skillet. Add garlic scapes and salt. Stir to coat. Let scapes sit undisturbed 4-5 min until blisters develop. You want the oil to be just below smoking. Remove from heat. Stir around and leave in pan a couple minutes to crisp the rest of the way.

Garlic Scape Pesto

Makes about 1 cup of pesto

• 3/4 to 1 cup roughly chopped garlic scapes (about 1/4 lb of scapes)
• 1/4 cup nuts of choice, traditional is pine nuts, but I often use walnuts
• 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (possibly more or less depending on taste)
• Optional: 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Combine the prepared scapes, nuts, salt and pepper in a food processor. Process until all is finely chopped. Slowly add the olive oil while the food processor is running. Check to see how you like the consistency before adding all of it. Add oil until you are happy with consistency. Add cheese (if using). Store in the fridge for about 1 week.

Or freeze! Garlic scape pesto freezes beautifully in ice cube trays. If you plan on freezing the pesto, leave out the cheese. You can add cheese after you have thawed the pesto cubes.

Here are some great ideas for using your garlic scape pesto:

• Pasta
• Spread it on bread or crackers
• Pizza
• In a soup, like tomato soup
• With chicken
• Or fish

Looking for more ideas?  Check out our garlic scape recipe page for ALLLL of our family favorites!

Have you ever had garlic scapes before? What is your favorite way to use them?

Please make a reply, as I’m always looking for ideas! Thank you!