Garlic Scape Pesto & 12 Ways to Use It!

Garlic Scape Pesto is such a delicious addition to so many recipes. This pesto is dairy free, vegan and gluten free. Perfect for pasta & more.

Pin

How to Grow Garlic

Garlic is such an easy plant to grow. It basically needs no attention except weeding and fertilization. In most northern areas, it is planted around late August or September and left to overwinter. It prefers loamy, well-drained soil but does well in my clayey soil too. It just can’t tolerate excess moisture.

If you have clayey soil as I do, boost up the organic material with mulch or sand. Mix it in well with the existing soil before planting.

What Are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic scapes are the flower bud and the stalk of the flower (botanically the peduncle) of the garlic plant. They are curly, green, and originate directly from the bulb.

If the garlic “scapes” are not removed from the leaves, the flower will take nutrients from the bulb, so that the bulb of the garlic will be smaller. Therefore, it is important to break or cut the garlic scapes off before they flower.

In upstate NY, they emerge from the beginning of June to the beginning of July. Remove them as soon as you see them emerge for best results. Continue to check for them for at least a few weeks, in case you missed any or new ones emerge.

Pin

Health Benefits of Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes contain nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, and protein. They also contain many of the same beneficial compounds found in garlic cloves. Some of these compounds can be reduced during cooking, so eating garlic scapes raw, like in this pesto, is a great way to enjoy them.

You can learn more about the health benefits of garlic scapes in this article.

How to Store Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes freeze very well. They can be chopped into pieces or chopped in the food processor, then placed in freezer containers. They will freeze for at least a year, so freeze them to use in recipes all year long. If you have more than you can use, try making garlic scape butter to freeze for later.

Garlic scapes will last in your refrigerator for at least a month. Note that they have their best flavor fresh-picked.

See full instructions in this article on How to store garlic scapes.

Pin

Ingredients You Need

• Garlic scapes – best to use them fresh-picked for the best flavor
• Almonds – (they are cheaper and easier to find than pine nuts) ground almonds, whole, slivered, or blanched will work fine. Use whatever you have in the pantry. Optional: toast the nuts lightly in the oven before making the sauce.
• Parsley – use fresh, not dried
• Basil – use fresh, not dried
• Oregano – use fresh, not dried
• Extra virgin olive oil – use a good quality oil for best flavor
• Optional: freshly grated parmesan cheese (omit for vegan or substitute nutritional yeast)

Pin

How to Make Garlic Scape Pesto

Tips for Your Success

• Trim the scapes first – Remove the tough ends and flower buds before chopping so your pesto has a smoother, more pleasant texture.
• Don’t over-process – Pulse the ingredients until combined, then stop. Over-processing can make the pesto too smooth and affect its fresh texture.
• Scrape the sides – Pause to scrape down the food processor bowl so everything blends evenly without leaving chunks behind.
• Adjust the consistency – Add olive oil gradually until the pesto reaches your preferred texture. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.
• Taste before serving – Check the seasoning after blending and add more salt, cheese, or lemon juice as needed.

Pin

How to Store Pesto

The pesto can be frozen in ice cube trays. Spray the trays with nonstick spray before adding pesto. Freeze for at least 3-4 hours. Remove the cubes from the trays and store in freezer containers or bags for at least one year.

Pesto can also be placed in freezer bags. Flatten the pesto in the bag using your hands or a rolling pin into a thin, uniform layer. When you need to remove some for a recipe, just break off the appropriate-sized piece.

How to Use Garlic Scape Pesto

1. Pesto is great tossed in pasta; add some of your pasta cooking water to “marry” the pesto to the pasta.
2. Lather some on steamed vegetables. Especially summer vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, and green or yellow beans.
3. It also makes a perfect pizza sauce; see my Chicken Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza.
4. It’s a great topping for bruschetta.
5. Top just about any meat with this pesto to give it a mild garlicky flavor.
6. Make a garlicky veggie dip.
7. Add it to soups or stews for an easy garlicky flavor.
8. Stir into mashed potatoes or mashed vegetables.
9. Make a garlicky vinaigrette.
10. Stuff chicken, pork or lamb.
11. Add a dollop to your fried or scrambled eggs.
12. Add it to pasta salad, potato salad or coleslaw.

Tools That Make This Recipe Work

If you don’t already have these, this is where most people struggle

• Chef’s Knife – Makes chopping garlic scapes quick and easy, giving you evenly sized pieces for smoother, more consistent pesto.
• Food Processor – Blends everything into creamy pesto quickly. Without one, achieving the right texture takes significantly more effort.
• Cutting Board – Provides a sturdy surface for trimming and chopping garlic scapes safely, keeping prep organized and efficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do garlic scapes taste like?
Garlic scapes have a mild garlic flavor with fresh, grassy notes. They’re less intense than mature garlic but still add plenty of flavor.

Can I make garlic scape pesto without nuts?
Yes. Simply leave out the nuts or replace them with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free option.

Do I need to cook garlic scapes before making pesto?
No. Garlic scapes can be used raw, making this pesto especially quick and easy to prepare.

Want to learn how to grow your own garlic? If you love growing your own produce, these articles are packed full of information about how to get that big harvest by the end of the season! Don’t miss our How to Start a Garden Series!

Pin

Make this Garlic Scape Pesto today, before they’re all gone until next June!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you click the link and purchase something. See FTC Disclosure, here.

Originally published 10/13/2017 updated 6/20/2021