Summer Wind Farms
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Home Kitchen Class - Garlic Scapes
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Serious garlic lovers know garlic scapes are just as good (maybe better!) than the actual garlic bulb. Garlic scapes are the long green shoots that grow from the garlic bulb, it's the garlic flower stem. They are an easy and unique way to add a fresh and grassy garlic flavor to a variety of dishes.
They’re milder than regular garlic cloves, which makes them useful in a wide variety of ways. Think of garlic scapes as a cross between chives and scallions. However they are not a cross, just the stem of the flower that hard neck type garlic makes late in its growth cycle. They are thin, bright green, CURVY, and will include a bulge near the end which is actually a flower bud. In the past, garlic growers discarded the scapes after removing them once they started to twist. They did this to help the garlic bulb grow larger. Some genius discovered that these things were quite edible. Check that, quite delicious.
How To Cook with Garlic Scapes
Garlic scapes can be eaten raw or cooked up and added to a variety of dishes. Wash the garlic scapes and trim the end and the bud. Discard the bud because it can be fibrous, which isn’t great in raw foods.
Because the scape itself can be a little tough if you include them in a raw dish, which you should, be sure to chop them very finely or puree as you would in a pesto. This is not an issue when you use them in a cooked dish.
Garlic Scapes work great in infusion recipes such as compound butter, pesto, hummus, or even pickling. Scapes also work great with eggs, olive oil, bacon, pine nuts, white beans, lemon juice, arugula, sea salt, robust cheeses, and fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, and parsley.
Raw garlic scapes have a garlic flavor, like onion, but pungent, and herbaceous, however, they’re less spicy than raw garlic cloves. Cooked, the scapes have a sweeter flavor akin to roasted garlic. Texture-wise, think asparagus.
Scapes make a great pesto when blended with olive oil, parmesan cheese, nuts, and salt. Chop them very finely and add to butter for a delicious compound butter. You can also use your favorite pickle recipe and preserve them.
Storing Garlic Scapes
Garlic scapes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks in a sealed plastic bag. To freeze, place the garlic scapes in a layer on a cookie sheet, and put it in the freezer. Once frozen, put them in a freezer bag, and store them in the freezer for up to one year.
Serious garlic lovers know garlic scapes are just as good (maybe better!) than the actual garlic bulb. Garlic scapes are the long green shoots that grow from the garlic bulb, it's the garlic flower stem. They are an easy and unique way to add a fresh and grassy garlic flavor to a variety of dishes.
They’re milder than regular garlic cloves, which makes them useful in a wide variety of ways. Think of garlic scapes as a cross between chives and scallions. However they are not a cross, just the stem of the flower that hard neck type garlic makes late in its growth cycle. They are thin, bright green, CURVY, and will include a bulge near the end which is actually a flower bud. In the past, garlic growers discarded the scapes after removing them once they started to twist. They did this to help the garlic bulb grow larger. Some genius discovered that these things were quite edible. Check that, quite delicious.
How To Cook with Garlic Scapes
Garlic scapes can be eaten raw or cooked up and added to a variety of dishes. Wash the garlic scapes and trim the end and the bud. Discard the bud because it can be fibrous, which isn’t great in raw foods.
Because the scape itself can be a little tough if you include them in a raw dish, which you should, be sure to chop them very finely or puree as you would in a pesto. This is not an issue when you use them in a cooked dish.
Garlic Scapes work great in infusion recipes such as compound butter, pesto, hummus, or even pickling. Scapes also work great with eggs, olive oil, bacon, pine nuts, white beans, lemon juice, arugula, sea salt, robust cheeses, and fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, and parsley.
Raw garlic scapes have a garlic flavor, like onion, but pungent, and herbaceous, however, they’re less spicy than raw garlic cloves. Cooked, the scapes have a sweeter flavor akin to roasted garlic. Texture-wise, think asparagus.
Scapes make a great pesto when blended with olive oil, parmesan cheese, nuts, and salt. Chop them very finely and add to butter for a delicious compound butter. You can also use your favorite pickle recipe and preserve them.
Storing Garlic Scapes
Garlic scapes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks in a sealed plastic bag. To freeze, place the garlic scapes in a layer on a cookie sheet, and put it in the freezer. Once frozen, put them in a freezer bag, and store them in the freezer for up to one year.
More Garlic Scape Information and Recipe links:
https://www.seriouseats.com/the-crisper-whisperer-what-to-do-with-garlic-scapes-recipe.
https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/garlic-scapes.
https://heartbeetkitchen.com/10-best-recipes-garlic-scapes/.
https://growagoodlife.com/10-ways-use-garlic-scapes/.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/ways-to-use-garlic-scapes-in-recipes-4160007.
https://www.seriouseats.com/the-crisper-whisperer-what-to-do-with-garlic-scapes-recipe.
https://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/garlic-scapes.
https://heartbeetkitchen.com/10-best-recipes-garlic-scapes/.
https://growagoodlife.com/10-ways-use-garlic-scapes/.
https://www.thespruceeats.com/ways-to-use-garlic-scapes-in-recipes-4160007.