Friday, June 19, 2009

What are Garlic Scapes?


Scapes are the early stages of the flower of a hard neck garlic bulb. They can be used for anything that you would use garlic for but are ready long before the bulbs. Below I have attached a couple of recipies.

Garlic scape pesto

Great on bread, crackers or pasta

Ingredients:

1 cup Grated parmesan cheese
3 Tb Fresh lime or lemon juice
¼ lb Garlic scapes
½ cup Extra-virgin olive oil
Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Puree garlic scapes and olive oil in a food processor until smooth.
2. Stir in Parmesan and lime or lemon juice and season to taste with salt.

Variation: Add 1/3 c. pine nuts or walnuts to the blender with the scapes and oil.

Garlic Scape Fritatta

1 ½ cups chopped garlic scapes
½ cup chopped chives
¼ cup hot water
Salt & pepper
1 ½ cups chopped chard or other green
4 large eggs
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Place garlic and green onions in a large skillet with 1 tsp oil, ¼ cup water and a pinch of salt. Cook covered over medium high heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the greens stir until wilted, about 1 minute. Drain well. Beat eggs with salt and pepper. Add remaining oil to skillet. When oil is hot, shake skillet to spread greens evenly, add eggs. Cover and cook over medium low heat until top is set, about 2-3 minutes. Cut into wedges. Serves 2.

Courtesy Amy Frye <ubcfarm.market@gmail.com

Another simple approach is to blanche the scapes and sautee them in butter and deglaze with chicken stock and serve a la carte.

Here at North Arm Farm grow "Music" garlic, a hard necked variety that was developed in Ontario, has great flavour and big cloves