Oops, I have too much is a blog series dedicated to the inevitable abundance of seasonal produce. Whether you grew it in your garden, got it in your CSA box or just couldn’t resist buying beautiful seasonal produce at the grocery store or farmer’s market, I’ll give you ideas for delicious ways to use your excess food + tips to preserve it for later so it won’t go to waste.
What to do with garlic scapes
Before I joined Herbal Turtle’s CSA, I had no idea what a garlic scape was. They arrived in my produce box with very convenient timing, however, because I had planted garlic in my own garden for the first time, and didn’t know these early garlic blooms needed to be snapped off before developing, so the plant’s energy would go into developing the root bulb. Plus, I was soon to discover that they’re absolutely delicious (and versatile!) so I was pleased to have more than enough for cooking lots of different ways.
Here’s a picture of what garlic scapes look like on a plant:
Storing garlic scapes
Short term:
Garlic scapes will keep very nicely in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for at least a week. Try storing them in a paper bag, so they won’t get overly moist.
Long term:
If you’d like to freeze your garlic scapes to use later, first chop them into pieces (I like mine rather small, about 1/8″ or so), then blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds or so. This will kill any microorganisms that may be present, and preserve the color and flavor for freezing. Drain them, then flash freeze them. After they’re frozen, transfer to a bag or jar.
I have also preserved them in salt in the fridge. Start by putting about 1/4″ of kosher salt in a jar, then layer chopped scapes and more salt until the jar is nearly full. Top with a little more salt to finish, so the scapes are completely covered. I keep this in the fridge and use the scapes for several months.
Quick & easy
- Quite simply, use it anywhere you’d use garlic
During the weeks we have garlic scapes in the fridge, I buy fewer garlic bulbs, and instead chop and saute garlic for use in our dinners, and add it raw to dishes like pesto. - Throw them on the grill
Baste with olive oil, and grill for 2 minutes on each side. - Use as a pizza topping
- Garlic scape pesto
I cannot say enough about garlic scape pesto. Here is a yummy recipe.
