8 Great Garlic Scape Recipes
Garlic scapes are one of the most exciting seasonal ingredients of late spring and early summer. These curly, bright green stalks grow from hardneck garlic plants and show up at farmers markets, CSA boxes, and backyard gardens for just a few short weeks. If you have ever wondered what to do with a big bundle of garlic scapes, this roundup of 8 great garlic scape recipes will help you turn that fresh haul into simple, flavorful dishes your whole family will love.
From quick weeknight sides to make ahead condiments, these recipes cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You will find ideas for pesto, hummus, pizza toppings, sauteed sides, grilled scapes, fresh salads, compound butter, and cozy soups. Whether you are a busy parent, a college student, or a dedicated food enthusiast, there is something here for you. Many of these methods are beginner friendly, require only a handful of pantry staples, and work well for meal prep.
8 Great Garlic Scape Recipes
Garlic scapes are a great way to get your garlic fix before garlic bulbs are ready to harvest.
Garlic scapes might seem baffling at first glance, but they are a great way to get your garlic fix before bulbs are ready to harvest each summer. Scapes are the flower stalk that many garlic varieties send up in the spring and early summer. If left to mature, the scape will form bulbils, seeds, and flowers, although almost all garlic today can only reproduce asexually from its cloves. Most garlic farmers pluck off the scapes so that nutrients will go towards growing the bulb, with the end result being lots and lots of scapes. The good news? Scapes are delicious and can be cooked many different ways.
Here is a quick look at the 8 recipe ideas covered in this roundup:
- Garlic scape pesto, blended with olive oil, nuts, and lemon
- Garlic scape hummus, made with chickpeas, tahini, and lemon
- Scape pizza, with chopped or sauteed scapes on top of cheese
- Sauteed scapes, cooked like asparagus in a hot pan
- Grilled scapes, charred quickly over high heat
- Scape salad, with raw chopped scapes mixed in like scallions
- Scape butter, stirred into softened butter for garlic bread
- Scape soup, added to any soup that calls for garlic
For a classic garlic scape hummus recipe, try blending 2 cans of drained chickpeas with 1 cup tahini, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and 1/2 cup chopped scapes. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of curry for a bright, creamy dip. Most of these recipes come together in under 30 minutes, and several can be made ahead for easy weeknight meals. If you cannot find scapes at the store, check your local farmers market or ask a gardening neighbor. They freeze well too, so you can stock up during peak season and enjoy them all year. Store fresh scapes in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to two to three weeks. For a deeper dive into each method, serving ideas, and storage tips, read the full guide at mmmgarlic.com.
8 Great Garlic Scape Recipes
Let us walk through each recipe idea one by one. See the full collection at mmmgarlic.com.
garlic scape pesto
Simply substitute garlic scapes for basil or use a half and half mixture for delicious pesto. Photo courtesy of MaryCrimmins.com. Blend chopped scapes with olive oil, pine nuts, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth. Toss it with hot pasta, spread it on sandwiches, or stir a spoonful into rice. For a vegan version, skip the cheese or use nutritional yeast. You can also try our garlic scape pasta vegan recipe for a complete plant based meal, or check out this classic garlic scape pesto recipe for more tips. Get the original method at mmmgarlic.com.
4\. Sauteed Scapes
Garlic scapes can be prepped and sauteed just like asparagus, either as long pieces or chopped up into smaller 1 to 2 inch pieces. Some people tie scapes together before sauteing to make them easier to maneuver in the pan while cooking. Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet, add the scapes, and cook until just tender and lightly golden. Finish with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Get the full recipe at mmmgarlic.com.
5\. Grilled Scapes
Similar to sauteed scapes, you can toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill for a few minutes, flipping them once. Cook until they have a bit of char, then remove, and finish with salt or lemon zest before serving. Grilled scapes make a fantastic side dish for burgers, steak, or grilled fish on a warm summer evening. Get the full recipe at mmmgarlic.com.
6\. Scape Salad
To get a little more garlic zing, simply chop raw scapes and mix them into salads like you would scallions. They add a crisp, mild bite that pairs well with leafy greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and a simple vinaigrette. Raw scapes also work beautifully in potato salad, pasta salad, or even a fresh salsa. Get the full recipe at mmmgarlic.com.
7\. Scape Butter
A simple scape butter recipe is to melt 1/4 cup of butter and mix in chopped raw scapes to taste. Thyme and other herbs can also be added, with scape butter a great addition to homemade garlic bread. For longer storage, roll the butter into a log in parchment paper and freeze. Slice off rounds as needed for steak, roasted veggies, or warm bread. If you want a vegan option, use plant based butter. Learn how to make and freeze garlic scape butter with our step by step guide, and read the original method at mmmgarlic.com.
8\. Scape Soup
Scapes can be added to many different soups that call for garlic, such as this garlic scape soup recipe. The sky is the limit here, as scapes are very versatile and can be added to many different soups or dips. Try a creamy potato and scape soup for a cozy dinner, a spring vegetable minestrone for a light lunch, or a chilled scape and yogurt soup for hot summer days. For more fresh garlic scape ideas, see this helpful roundup. Get the full recipe at mmmgarlic.com.
