I’ve posted a couple of recipes lately in which I used garlic scapes.
I’ve gotten emails.
Garlic scapes? WHAT are garlic scapes? Where do I buy them? Help!
I have to be honest. I never heard of garlic scapes before they came in our box from our CSA.
But they came several weeks in a row, so I had to figure out what to do with them.
Apparently, garlic scapes are the shoots that garlic bulbs send up as they’re growing. Garlic bulbs want to become garlic plants, so they send up green things like onions do.
Farmers harvest these shoots so that the plant uses its energy to make a bigger bulb instead of making a bigger plant. I get this. That’s how plants work.
Instead of throwing the sprouts in the compost pile, our farmers send them out in the CSA boxes. I’ve heard you can also buy them at some farmer’s markets or directly from farmers who grow garlic.
Garlic scapes definitely taste like garlic, but the flavor is very mild. They’re like garlic essence, without the bite you back quality of a clove of garlic.
If you love garlic like I do or if you like garlic but hate to smell for days, you should definitely look for garlic scapes.
And then come back and tell me about it.
To inspire you, I found a few recipes featuring garlic scapes:
- My pesto primavera
- My zucchini eggs
- A newsletter with recipes for scape pesto, fried scapes, and spinach and scape frittata
- An article with lots of tips for use, plus garlic scape tortillas, mashed potatoes with scapes, and chicken with scapes and capers
- Thanks to Annie at PhD in Parenting for sharing a recipe with me for grilled garlic scapes
© 2009 – 2018, Tara Ziegmont. All rights reserved.
Melissa says
I’d never heard of garlic scapes, either. I’ve grown garlic a few times, but I just let the tops grow. I’ll have to try clipping them off to use.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Cucumber Salad =-.
Melissa says
I’d never heard of garlic scapes, either. I’ve grown garlic a few times, but I just let the tops grow. I’ll have to try clipping them off to use.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Cucumber Salad =-.
TooManyHats says
Never heard of them. Now I am going to have to look for them. Thanks for the lesson.
.-= TooManyHats´s last blog ..Recipe Swap 7/13/09 =-.
Nicole Feliciano says
Thanks for this info. I see these at the farmer’s market and will try them.
.-= Nicole Feliciano´s last blog ..Kickboard USA Scooter Giveaway =-.
Robyns Online World says
I had never heard of them either – but heck they taste like garlic so they must be good! I will be on the lookout for them when I get to a farmer’s market.
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..What a Man! =-.
anissa says
I’ve never heard of that! Sounds pretty good because I love to cook with garlic. Thanks for sharing.
.-= anissa´s last blog ..Toddler Virtue Tees Reviews =-.
Harriet says
I didn’t know you could actually use those. hhhhmmmmmm. thanks
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/07/monday-crazy-questions-and-recipe-swap_12.html
.-= Harriet´s last blog ..THE JULY COMMENT CHALLENGE!!!!!! =-.
TooManyHats says
Never heard of them. Now I am going to have to look for them. Thanks for the lesson.
.-= TooManyHats´s last blog ..Recipe Swap 7/13/09 =-.
Nicole Feliciano says
Thanks for this info. I see these at the farmer’s market and will try them.
.-= Nicole Feliciano´s last blog ..Kickboard USA Scooter Giveaway =-.
Ann Kroeker says
Ya learn something new every day! Thanks for educating us!
.-= Ann Kroeker´s last blog ..Make-Do Mondays: Make-Do Mousepad =-.
rachel-asouthernfairytale says
How neat!!! I had never heard of these before and they sound great for lovers of Garlic!
Thanks for sharing this info!!!
rachel-asouthernfairytale says
How neat!!! I had never heard of these before and they sound great for lovers of Garlic!
Thanks for sharing this info!!!
Robyn's Online World says
I had never heard of them either – but heck they taste like garlic so they must be good! I will be on the lookout for them when I get to a farmer’s market.
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..What a Man! =-.
anissa says
I’ve never heard of that! Sounds pretty good because I love to cook with garlic. Thanks for sharing.
.-= anissa´s last blog ..Toddler Virtue Tees Reviews =-.
Harriet says
I didn’t know you could actually use those. hhhhmmmmmm. thanks
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/07/monday-crazy-questions-and-recipe-swap_12.html
.-= Harriet´s last blog ..THE JULY COMMENT CHALLENGE!!!!!! =-.
angie says
think I learned something else off your blog thanks
angie says
think I learned something else off your blog thanks
Ann Kroeker says
Ya learn something new every day! Thanks for educating us!
.-= Ann Kroeker´s last blog ..Make-Do Mondays: Make-Do Mousepad =-.
Piera-Jolly Mom says
I’d never heard of them either. Thanks for letting us know! I will look for them!
.-= Piera-Jolly Mom´s last blog ..Back to School: Dorm Room Makeovers on a Budget =-.
Piera-Jolly Mom says
I’d never heard of them either. Thanks for letting us know! I will look for them!
.-= Piera-Jolly Mom´s last blog ..Back to School: Dorm Room Makeovers on a Budget =-.
Anonymous says
We love scapes! We toss them in olive oil and put them on the BBQ. Delicious!
.-= Annie @ PhD in Parenting´s last blog ..Learning and Nodding: Raising My Boychick =-.
Annie @ PhD in Parenting says
We love scapes! We toss them in olive oil and put them on the BBQ. Delicious!
.-= Annie @ PhD in Parenting´s last blog ..Learning and Nodding: Raising My Boychick =-.
Bonnie says
I have never heard of garlic scapes either. Good to know if I ever try growing them.
.-= Bonnie´s last blog ..Tackle It Tuesday =-.
Bonnie says
I have never heard of garlic scapes either. Good to know if I ever try growing them.
.-= Bonnie´s last blog ..Tackle It Tuesday =-.
Anonymous says
Yum! I need to keep my eyes out for these and see if I can pick some up to try out.
.-= mub´s last blog ..No Roll Pie Crust =-.
mub says
Yum! I need to keep my eyes out for these and see if I can pick some up to try out.
.-= mub´s last blog ..No Roll Pie Crust =-.
Wendy says
I love Garlic, I am actually growing some now. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Factory Outlets in Pa Dutch Country =-.
Jenna @ Newlyweds says
I’ve never grown garlic, but I do grow shallots and we cut the greens off the top and use them all the time, delicious!! Thank for sharing.
.-= Jenna @ Newlyweds´s last blog ..Multiples and More Interview =-.
[email protected] says
Thanks for the recipe and sharing your summer veggie tips with us. I am glad you joined us for TMTT this week.
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday….Black Bean Salad =-.
Wendy says
I love Garlic, I am actually growing some now. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Wendy´s last blog ..Factory Outlets in Pa Dutch Country =-.
Jenna @ Newlyweds says
I’ve never grown garlic, but I do grow shallots and we cut the greens off the top and use them all the time, delicious!! Thank for sharing.
.-= Jenna @ Newlyweds´s last blog ..Multiples and More Interview =-.
[email protected] says
Thanks for the recipe and sharing your summer veggie tips with us. I am glad you joined us for TMTT this week.
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday….Black Bean Salad =-.
renee @ FIMBY says
I love those little scrapes and I too had never heard of them before they arrived in our csa share.
.-= renee @ FIMBY´s last blog ..Oh my. It’s so hot and dry =-.
Erin @ Closing Time says
Wow! I’ve never heard of or seen these before. I’ll have to keep an eye out for them, and I’m looking forward to trying your recipes!
.-= Erin @ Closing Time´s last blog ..WFMW: Sensitive Skin Products That Work! =-.
[email protected] says
i just learned a lot. thank you:)
love garlic!!
Jenny says
are those the same as the cloves? Or do they taste different?
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..A Whole New Start =-.
renee @ FIMBY says
I love those little scrapes and I too had never heard of them before they arrived in our csa share.
.-= renee @ FIMBY´s last blog ..Oh my. It’s so hot and dry =-.
Erin @ Closing Time says
Wow! I’ve never heard of or seen these before. I’ll have to keep an eye out for them, and I’m looking forward to trying your recipes!
.-= Erin @ Closing Time´s last blog ..WFMW: Sensitive Skin Products That Work! =-.
niki says
Wow, you learn something new every day! I have never ever heard of these!
🙂
.-= niki´s last blog ..WFMW…Frugal or Free Pet Toys =-.
[email protected] says
i just learned a lot. thank you:)
love garlic!!
Jenny says
are those the same as the cloves? Or do they taste different?
.-= Jenny´s last blog ..A Whole New Start =-.
Tara says
Jenny – The taste is very similar to the cloves, but when it’s cooked, it is much more mild. I’ve heard that they’re nasty when raw. 🙂
Tara says
Jenny – The taste is very similar to the cloves, but when it’s cooked, it is much more mild. I’ve heard that they’re nasty when raw. 🙂
niki says
Wow, you learn something new every day! I have never ever heard of these!
🙂
.-= niki´s last blog ..WFMW…Frugal or Free Pet Toys =-.
Audrey says
I’ve never heard of these before. I love cooking with garlic. I’ll have to see if there’s a place I can get these here locally
.-= Audrey´s last blog ..Slow Cooking Thursday =-.
Audrey says
I’ve never heard of these before. I love cooking with garlic. I’ll have to see if there’s a place I can get these here locally
.-= Audrey´s last blog ..Slow Cooking Thursday =-.
freeloader80 says
i winder how similar they taste to cloves? – grow garlic at home
Christina Holland-Radvon says
I just got my first batch of garlic scapes in my CSA share yesterday. I was like…”WTH is a garlic scape?!” I just diced some up and put it in my chicken salad sandwich (along with some CSA-provided red bib lettuce) for lunch. It was awesome! I’m a scape convert!
Tara @ Feels Like Home says
Yes! Aren’t they great? I really like them a lot, too.
Anna says
i don’t know what a scape is, can you help me in german please?