When you grow hard-neck garlic one of the by-products is garlic scapes. This is when the garlic is trying to flower and produce seeds by putting up a scape from the center of the plant. To ensure that the plant is putting its energy into growing a large garlic bulb, you want to cut off the garlic scape once it creates a loop at the top of the plant. Be sure not to compost or throw out these scapes as they are edible and you can do several different things with them. Below are a few of my favourite things to do with garlic scapes.
Garlic Scape Recipes
- Grilled garlic scapes are very easy to prepare, cooked just like asparagus on the barbeque. Coat the scapes with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and grill until bright green and slightly charred.
- Pesto is a great option to use up a considerable amount of scapes. I will often freeze the pesto in small jars or ice cube trays for use over the winter.
- The Art of Doing Stuff recipe is my favourite that I go back to frequently.
- Pickling is another option, this could be either a quick refrigerator pickle or a canning recipe. This is another great way to save the scapes for later.
- The Spruce Eats has a simple recipe for refrigerator pickled garlic scapes.
Garlic is great to grow and have in your pantry year ground. I hope you enjoy these suggestions for this fantastic by-product that you get from growing hard-neck garlic.
Enjoy and Happy Gardening!
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