3 Recipes for the Brief Bounty of Garlic Scapes

If you shop at farmers' markets or even grow your own food, you know that spring and summer are a long series of fleeting moments of gustatory pleasure. Just as soon as something has reached it's peak harvest, it's gone, and we have only a moment to enjoy the brief bounty before moving on to the next. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and under-appreciated delights of late spring are garlic scapes.

Garlic scapes are the long, flowering stem of the garlic plant. Everyone is familiar with the white bulb that grows underground, but fewer people are aware that other parts of the plant are edible. As the plant matures in the spring, the stem, or scape, shoots up and begins to curl around like a corkscrew. The scape must be removed while it's still tender to allow the plant to focus its energy and nutrients on growing a large and tasty bulb. The scapes are often thrown away, but they can be used in the kitchen in a number of ways, from the main attraction to a subtle flavor enhancement.

Keep an eye out for garlic scapes at your local market, and don't be fearful to try them out. They will only be around for a few weeks, at most, and chefs in the know will be scrambling the get their hands on some. The taste is reminiscent of the flavor of garlic, but without the bite. Garlic lovers will go crazy for it, and even those less fond of the white bulbs may be pleasantly surprised. Find three simple recipes for garlic scapes after the break.

The entire garlic scape is edible except for the pointed flowering end. The simplest, most flavorful use of garlic scapes is to finely slice them and sprinkle them raw over salads or other dishes. Imagine they are scallions, and use them in a similar way. They will add a wonderfully subtle garlic flavor.

Grilled garlic scapes are an elegant, yet simple side dish, and are prepared much the same way as grilled asparagus. Simply drizzle the scapes with olive oil and spread to coat, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and grill over a hot fire for several minutes, turning frequently, until tender and slightly caramelized (even black in spots).

Garlic scape pesto is also another popular dish. It can be served as a dip for bread, or tossed with pasta or other grains for a vibrant main dish. To prepare, add about 10 roughly chopped scapes, about 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and 1/4 cup almonds (or other nut of your choice) to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in about 1/2 cup olive oil, or until the desired consistency is reached. Remove from the machine and finish with salt to taste and a splash of lemon juice.

There are endless other uses for garlic scapes, so go out and experiment. Eat well, and enjoy this delicious spring vegetable while you can.

Photo: thebittenword.com