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You are here: Home / Homestyle Recipes / Garlic Scapes Pesto Recipe

Garlic Scapes Pesto Recipe

October 22, 2020 by Jane and Sonja Leave a Comment

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Don’t let those garlic scapes go to waste! We’ll show you how to harvest those scapes and then prepare and store a delicious garlic scapes pesto to have on hand as needed.

Garlic scapes pesto in a jar next to fresh garlic.

Asking yourself ‘what are garlic scapes’?

In a nutshell, scapes are part of the garlic growing cycle. They are the long, leafless flowering stem sprouting directly from the garlic bulb. The scapes form a flower at the tip; which then produce seeds for future planting. And since they are deliciously edible, we use them to make a tasty garlic scapes pesto. But even if you don’t plan to eat the scapes, it is best to cut them off to ensure enough energy goes towards the garlic cloves. 

A man and a woman standing near a garden of garlic scapes.
Our parents tending to their garlic garden

What is pesto?

Pesto is traditionally known for being made up of basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and coarse salt, all blended with olive oil, forming an oily green paste that is most used for a simple pasta sauce. Similar to a traditional pesto, garlic scapes pesto is also an uncooked sauce with a mildly garlic flavor.

Overheard view of garlic scapes pesto in a jar.

How to Use Garlic Scapes Pesto?

Mixing a spoonful of garlic spaces pesto into a fresh green salad or using it as a spread on top of toasted homemade bread or even adding it to your non-creamy pasta salad are just a few of the simple ways to use this versatile pesto.

  • Homemade White Bread
  • Spring leaf salad with beet leaves and lettuce
    Mix Green Salad
  • a bowl of delicious non creamy pasta salad
    Pasta Salas

Ingredients Needed:

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  • 1 cup coarsely chopped garlic scapes
  • 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp coarse salt

How to Make Garlic Scapes Pesto:

Fresh garlic scapes in a garden.

Harvesting Garlic Scapes

Scapes are ready about a month before the garlic bulb is ready to harvest. For us here in South Western, Ontario; we remove the scapes at the end of June and beginning of July. 

Wait until the center stem completely forms and grows above the rest of the plant forming a white flower bud. Don’t mistake the garlic leaves with the scapes; which will curl at the ends.

Close up of a garlic scape.

Using a pair of gardening sheers, cut off and discard the seeds (or put aside to fully dry for using to plant garlic in the Fall). Only use the part of the stem that is softer, not overly hard and woody. 

Harvesting the garlic scapes and placing them in a wood barrel.

Preparing Garlic Scapes Pesto

Cut stems into 1” long pieces and wash.

Cut garlic scapes stems.

Place pieces in a food processor to chop. The texture of the scapes should be coarse, not too smooth and creamy.

Putting garlic scapes into a food processor.

Add olive oil, water and coarse salt. Stir together.

Using a food processor to mix together garlic scapes, olive oil, water and salt.

Place mixed garlic scapes pesto in clean jars to be stored in the fridge or place in a freezer safe bag to store for longer. 

Scooping garlic scapes pesto with a spoon.

How to Store Garlic Scapes Pesto?

Typically a pesto once made up, should be used fresh within a day or two. But alternatively, when pesto is tightly sealed in a glass jar it can be stored in the fridge for up to one month. And as an added bonus, pesto freezes really, really well. So place any unused pesto into a freezer safe bag in meal-friendly portion sizes and store in the freezer for up to one year. Remove the pesto from the freezer and leave it to thaw for use as needed.

Garlic scapes pesto in a jar next to fresh garlic and a hand towel.

Tip: This same process for making garlic scapes pesto can also be done for fresh parsley. A parsley pesto is perfect for freezing and then using to make a soup broth throughout the cold winter months.

Garlic Scapes Pesto Recipe

Jane and Sonja
Sharing this simple recipe for making and storing a delicious garlic scapes pesto.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Calories 913 kcal

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped garlic scapes
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp coarse salt

Instructions
 

Harvesting Garlic Scapes

  • Garlic scapes should be harvested one month before the bulb is ready for harvesting.
  • Wait until the center stalk completely forms and grows above the rest of the plant.
  • Using a pair of gardening sheers, cut off and discard the seeds.
  • Use the part of the stem that is softer, not hard and woody.

Preparing Garlic Scapes Pesto

  • Cut stems into 1” long pieces and wash.
  • Place pieces in a food processor to chop. The texture of the scapes should be coarse, not too smooth and creamy.
  • Add olive oil, water and coarse salt. Stir together.
  • Place mixed pesto in jars and seal with a lid.
  • Place sealed jars in the fridge to use within one month. Alternatively, place any extra pesto in freezer safe bags and remove from the freezer to thaw as needed. Scapes will keep in the freezer for up to one year.

Nutrition

Calories: 913kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 12gFat: 73gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 1197mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 58mgCalcium: 340mgIron: 4mg
Keyword appetizers, preserves
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Garlic scapes pesto in a jar with text overlay.

Filed Under: Gardening, Homestyle Recipes, Salads Tagged With: garlic, recipe, salad, upcycling diy

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We're Jane & Sonja, sisters who've grown up learning our mom Branka's traditional ways in cooking, gardening and homemaking. We are happy to bring this modern homesteading lifestyle to you!

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