Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes are the “flower” of garlic plants, it isn’t really a flower at all but looks pretty.  Typically, they are cut off the plant so the garlic bulb will maintain the growth.  The scapes can be planted to grow garlic but this may take a few years so most farmers/gardeners cut the scapes and compost them.

My CSA box had scapes in it so I made pesto! and pickled garlic scapes.

I washed the scapes, loaded them in the food processor and added enough olive oil to make it look like pesto.  I divided the mixture into two bowls and added feta to one and Parmesan, Asiago, romano mix to the other bowl.

I will use the pesto with pasta–I like to cook the pasta then add about a cup of the pasta water to the pesto and pasta–that way the cheese sort of melts and make a sauce.

I also use the pesto with quinoa.  I make the quinoa and then add the pesto to it–maybe add some tomatoes or zucchini–those were also in my CSA box!

The pickled scapes are very easy–1:1 ratio of water to vinegar, some sugar and salt–bring it to a boil and then I let it cool before I pour it over the scapes.  I refrigerate for a couple of days before I will eat them.  This is a great recipe to pickle just about anything!