Garlic Scapes Pesto Recipe

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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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:

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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