how to use garlic scapes

Garlic scapes, also sometimes called garlic stems, stalks, shoots or spears, are the flower stalks that hardneck garlic plants produce before the bulbs mature.

Over 10 Garlic Scape Recipes Curated by Grow a Good Life. The garlic scape is edible and has a lovely, mild garlic flavor with a hint of sweetness. The scape is most tender, with almost an asparagus-like texture when it is curling.

About three weeks before the garlic bulb is ready for harvesting, it sends up a flower stalk. The stalk grows upwards for several inches then will curl once or twice before continuing to grow upward. Removing this stalk, or garlic scape allows the plant to devote its energy into growing a larger bulb of garlic.

What are garlic scapes and How to Use Them: Over 10 Garlic Scape Recipes shared by fellow bloggers. Enjoy the mild garlic flavor with a hint of sweetness.

The garlic scape is edible and has a lovely, mild garlic flavor with a hint of sweetness. The scape is most tender, with almost an asparagus-like texture when it is curling. It left on too long, it becomes more firm and woody. I harvest mine all at once at the curly state by cutting the scape at the bottom where it meets the last leaf of the plant.

Garlic scapes are a much anticipated and enjoyed harvest that usually occurs mid-June in my area. This is commonly the time we are in a garlic rut. Usually the stored garlic from last year has dwindled and I try to resist the garlic growing in the garden to allow it to reach its full potential. Garlic scapes fill in that gap and can be used as a replacement for garlic in most recipes.

I usually reserve half of the garlic scape harvest to enjoy fresh. They last a long time in the refrigerator. I use the scapes in stir fry, sautéed in olive oil and used as a pizza topping, or grilled as a side dish. Roasting particularly brings out the sweetness of garlic flavor.

3 Ways to Preserve Garlic Scapes

The rest of the garlic scape harvest is preserved to benefit from later. Here are three ways you can preserve garlic scapes to enjoy all year:

Garlic Scape Pesto

The first method I use to preserve the mild flavor of garlic scapes is to make and freeze as pesto. Once thawed, the pesto can be used as a dip, pizza topping, or as a pasta sauce.

A slight twist from your regular pesto, this recipe combines garlic scapes with lemon balm for an early garden fresh variation. Spoon this garlic scape lemon balm pesto on pasta, seafood, and even sandwiches.

This garlic scape recipe is a slight twist from your regular pesto. It combines garlic scapes with lemon balm for an early garden fresh variation.

Garlic Scape Lemon Balm Pesto

Freezing Garlic Scapes

Another method I use to savor the mild garlic scape flavor, is to chop them into 1-inch pieces and freeze in zipper freezer bags. This makes it easy to grab a handful of garlic scapes and add them to soups, stews, stir fry, or anywhere else that you would use garlic. The garlic scapes hold up really well to freezing and remain firm.

Canning Garlic Scapes

Love pickles and garlic? Then you are going to love the flavor of these pickled garlic scapes.

overhead photo of a jar of pickled garlic scapes

This canning recipe combines garlic scapes with pickling spices for a garlicky-vinegary snack.

Pickled Garlic Scapes Recipe

Wondering what else to do with garlic scapes? Try some of these recipes:

Grilled Garlic Scapes by Grow a Good Life
Garlic Scape Pesto / Dip by Learning and Yearning
Garlic Scape Pistachio Pesto Hummus by Farm Fresh Feasts
Daphne's Garlic Scape Dressing by Daphne's Dandelions
Shrimp and Garlic Scape Scampi by Farm Fresh Feasts
Garlic Scape Pesto Cheesy Flatbread Pizza by Farm Fresh Feasts
Roasted Garlic Scapes with Sea Salt by With Food + Love
Garlic Scape Pesto with Pine Nuts by One Beet
Chicken Garlic Scape Soup with Purple Potatoes & Asparagus by Nutrients You Fools

Need even more ideas? Farm Fresh Feasts has a roundup of Garlic Scape recipes:
28 Recipes Using Garlic Scapes (Recipe Round Up) by Farm Fresh Feasts