Harvest Garlic Scapes: 15 Must-Try Delicious Recipes

Harvest Garlic Scapes: 15 Must-Try Delicious Recipes

Becoming a successful home grower means knowing how to maximize every crop you cultivate. While experienced organic gardeners understand that things don’t always go as planned, they also discover that many edible plants provide ‘secret’ secondary yields alongside the main harvest. Garlic scapes are a fantastic example of this.

What Are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic scapes are the flowering stalks of hardneck garlic varieties (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon). While there are both softneck and hardneck varieties of garlic, the latter is generally more suitable for cool climates and provides the bonus of delicious scapes. Softneck garlic does not produce scapes, but the perennial elephant garlic also offers scapes that you can harvest and enjoy.

How to Harvest Garlic Scapes

To ensure optimal flavor and texture, garlic scapes should be harvested when they are young and tender, ideally around mid-June. If they become too long, they can become tough and fibrous, requiring cooking before consumption. You can simply snap them off at the base, but using garden scissors or a knife is gentler on the bulbs below.

15 Garlic Scape Recipes

So, you’ve gathered a handful of garlic scapes from your hardneck garlic plants. What delicious dishes can you create? Here are 15 inventive ways to make the most of your harvest:

• 1. Simple Salad with Garlic Scapes

  Get creative with scapes in salads. Try this Potato Salad with Scapes, Snap Peas, and Scallions.

• 2. Easy Pasta Dish

  Incorporate scapes into pasta dishes, like this Scape and Cherry Tomato Pasta.

• 3. Garlic Scape Pesto

  Blend scapes into a delicious pesto great for salads, pasta, or as a spread. Check out this recipe for Scape Pesto.

• 4. Stir Scapes into Risotto

  Scapes are perfect for enhancing seasonal risottos. Try this Scape Risotto.

• 5. Blanch Scapes and Add to Mashed Potatoes

  Add a burst of flavor to mashed potatoes with scapes. Here’s a lovely recipe for Scape Mashed Potatoes.

• 6. Garlic Scape Omelette, Quiche, or Tart

  Scapes combine beautifully with eggs in omelettes or quiches. Check out this Scape Quiche.

• 7. Use Garlic Scapes in Soup

  Enhance your soups with scapes. This Potato Scape Soup is a must-try.

• 8. Grill Garlic Scapes Like Asparagus

  Grilled scapes make for a delicious side dish. Try them out with this Grilled Scapes recipe.

• 9. Stir-Fried Scapes

  Stir-fry scapes for a quick and tasty dish, just like in this recipe from Stir Fried Scapes.

• 10. Tempura Fried Scapes with Sweet Chilli Sauce

  For a delightful snack, try tempura frying scapes served with a sweet chilli sauce. Here’s how: Garlic Scapes: How to Use Them.

• 11. Scape Dip/Dressing

  Blend scapes into a creamy dip or dressing. Discover the recipe for Creamy Garlic Scape Dip.

• 12. Scape Aioli

  Use scapes to create a flavorful aioli. Check out this Garlic Scape Aioli recipe.

• 13. Scape Sandwich Spread

  Turn scapes into a delicious sandwich spread. Here’s a recipe for Garlic Scape Sandwich Spread.

• 14. Scape Hummus

  Add scapes to hummus for an inventive twist. Try this Garlic Scape Hummus recipe.

• 15. Scape Chutney

  Consider making a flavorful garlic scape chutney. Here’s how to prepare Grilled Naan with Indian Scape Chutney.

Bonus Recipe: Pickled Garlic Scapes

For a quick and tasty pickle, try this simple recipe for Pickled Garlic Scapes.

Conclusion

Garlic scapes are a versatile and delicious addition to many dishes, providing both flavor and nutrition. With these 15 recipes and a bonus pickling option, you’ll be able to enjoy the full bounty of your garlic harvest. Happy cooking!