16 Best Garlic Scape Recipes to Use Up Your Scapes
Wondering what to do with the garlic scapes you harvested from your garden or found at the local farmer’s market? I have you covered with my top 16 favorite garlic scape recipes!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love garlic scape season. Harvesting these curly green garlic shoots signals to me the official start to summer and I love making loads of garlic scape recipes to get my fill and preserve some for later.
All garlic lovers will enjoy these garlic scape recipes that highlight this unique vegetable. Try them all and embrace the fruits of the season!
What are Garlic Scapes?
Garlic scapes are green, curly flower stalks that emerge from hardneck garlic plants each year. They typically pop up in late spring or early summer and are considered a delicacy by gardeners and chefs alike. Growers cut garlic scapes before they are able to flower to encourage bulb growth and harvest larger bulbs at the end of the season. It is certainly lucky that they are so delicious so those little flower stems don’t go to waste!
Garlic scapes are like garlicky asparagus and can be made into a variety of dishes to add a fresh, garlic flavor.
If you are wondering what you’re supposed to do with your bunch of garlic scapes, I have you covered! Without further ado, here are my 15 favorite recipes that use delicious garlic scapes.
Garlic Scape Compound Butter
This butter is creamy, tangy, and so flavorful. With fresh herbs, lemon juice, and of course lots of raw garlic scapes, this butter is delicious for garlic bread, steak, veggies, and more. Make a big batch to freeze some for later use!
Zesty Garlic Scape Pesto
Pine nuts, lemon, and parmesan cheese complement our garlic scapes perfectly in this delicious sauce. Garlic scape pesto is an easy way to use loads of garlic scapes and, best of all, it freezes really well! This pesto recipe is sure to be a go-to so you can enjoy these garlicky, curly stems in many meals to come.
Garlic Scape Vinaigrette
This tangy garlic scape vinaigrette is a delicious dressing for salads, meat, veggies, and more. With white wine vinegar, raw scapes, and a bit of lemon juice, it is bursting with flavor. This simple dressing comes together in minutes and will make every meal all the more delicious.
Pickled Garlic Scapes
These tangy, pickled garlic scapes are a great way to enjoy whole garlic scapes to the fullest and preserve them for later. Great on sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie boards, pickled garlic scapes are delicious and versatile. This recipe couldn’t be easier and doesn’t require any canning; simply make the pickles in a jar and refrigerate!
Potato Garlic Scape Soup
This tasty soup packs a garlic punch, using both garlic scape broth and fresh garlic scapes. It freezes well for easy garlic scape preservation and is a hearty, delicious soup. My favorite part of this recipe is it finds a use for the tips of the scapes by turning them into a rich, flavorful broth. Warm, comforting, and delightfully flavorful, add this soup to your next meal plan.
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini fritters are one of my go-to recipes for using up loads of fresh zucchini and they don’t get better than this recipe! Fresh garlic scapes add a bunch of flavor to these fritters and make them stand out above all of the other recipes I’ve tried. If you’re looking to combine two delightful garden veggies, this is your recipe.
Garlic Scape Relish
Add a unique, delicious twist to your backyard barbeques this summer with easy garlic scape relish. With tangy vinegar and the garlicky flavor of the scapes, it is the perfect addition to your burgers, hot dogs, and potato salad. This simple recipe includes canning instructions, too, so you can have garlic scape relish all year long!
Wild Foraged Black Trumpet Mushroom Spread
If you’re looking for a unique, wow-worthy dish, this is it. With wild foraged mushrooms, cream cheese, and garlic scapes, this spread is packed with flavor and super creamy. Enjoy it with crackers, bread, fresh veggies, and more!
Farmer’s Market Green Pasta
This simple garlic scape pasta dish is the perfect way to get your veggies in and enjoy all summer has to offer! With lots of fresh vegetables and herbs, including our beloved garlic scapes, this pasta is flavorful and tasty.
Seasonally Spring Donabe
I’m a huge fan of recipes that combine lots of seasonal veggies and this donabe recipe is just that! With fava beans, morel mushrooms, and garlic scapes, this warm and comforting soup is the perfect way to enjoy the fruits of the season!
Garlic Scape Powder (Dehydrated Garlic Scapes)
We don’t have to use all of the scapes right away! Learn how to preserve garlic scapes for months by dehydrating them and making a flavorful garlic scape powder. You’ll enjoy this garlic scape powder all year long as you add it to your meals for a little taste of summer.
Lacto-Fermented Garlic Scapes
Fermenting garlic scapes is the perfect way to preserve them and give them an extra gut-healing boost. Snack on them like pickles or add them to sandwiches and salads; either way, you will love these salty, tangy scapes.
Garlic Scape Pesto Pizza
What could be better than garlic scapes and pizza? This easy garlic scape pesto pizza sauce is the perfect unique way to make your pizza extra flavorful. With loads of garlic scapes, parmesan cheese, and just a handful of cherry tomatoes, you won’t want to go back to normal pizza after trying this recipe!
Roasted Asparagus with Buttered Shallots and Garlic Scapes
This recipe combines three of my favorite vegetables for a flavor-packed vegetable side dish. Garlic scapes add their mild yet powerful garlic flavor to this roasted asparagus dish. Give this recipe a try and don’t be afraid to add extra garlic scapes!
Grilled Garlic Scapes
Add a unique side dish to your next meal with grilled garlic scapes. This simple recipe makes for delicious scapes that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can enjoy your garlic scapes without any of the distractions and savor their garlicky flavor and asparagus-like texture.
Chinese Lettuce Stir Fry
Stir fry doesn’t get better than this; it’s packed with unique vegetables such as Chinese lettuce and garlic scapes. This stir fry is full of flavor and is the perfect way to use up lots of veggies!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I buy garlic scapes?
If you don’t grow your own garlic, you may be wondering where to get garlic scapes to make all of these tasty recipes with. Garlic scapes can typically be found at the farmer’s markets or directly from a farmer. You’ll usually find them sometime in May or June, but it’s best to ask your local farmer if you are unsure.
Should I eat garlic scapes raw or cooked?
Both! Cooking garlic scapes is a great way to give them a nice, tender texture, but raw scapes are also delicious and have a more pungent flavor. You’ll find both cooked and raw scapes in these great garlic scapes recipes!
Can you freeze garlic scapes?
Yes, if you aren’t ready to make anything with them just yet, garlic scapes can be frozen very well. Learn everything you need to know to freeze garlic scapes in my how-to post.
