Scape Pesto

Pesto is a culinary flavour bomb! And, did you know that you can make it out of any type of greens? Basil of course is one of the most common but also spinach, parsley, cilantro. You name it!

Since we had an abundance of garlic scapes at our disposal we decided to make some scape pesto and it didn't disappoint. These babies are spicy! But once ground down and added to a recipe the taste evened out and was very enjoyable.

If you manage to get your hands on some scapes (we can hook you up!) and aren't sure what to do, then this pesto will make a great addition to your next recipe.

Gather together:

Garlic scapes: approx 10 - 20. Chopped into pieces. You can use or choose to discard the bulb at the top. If the end of the scape seems a bit woody, make sure to trim that too!

Basil (optional)

Olive oil: 1/2 cup

Parmesan: 1/3 cup grated

Lemon: juice from half a lemon

Pine nuts: 1/3 cup

Salt and pepper: to taste

Mortar and pestle is the traditional way to make pesto but since scapes have a tougher stalk your blender or food processor is the better bet.

Add the scapes, basil, pine nuts, cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper to the blender. As it begins to break down, slowly add in the olive oil until incorporated.

Remember to taste as you go as you may need a bit more oil to reach your desired consistency.

We also found adding some basil tamed down the strength of the scapes. As it's quite a garlicky punch!

Store in a covered container in your fridge. It should last for about a week. It also freezes well for later use.

Now all that's left to do is add it to your favourite recipe. We decided to make a pasta and use the pesto as the star of the dish.

Some other great ideas are adding to a chicken dish, using as a base for pizza or spreading on bread and dipping into olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

If your a fan of pickled garlic, pickled scapes could be a whole other level! We are currently in the process of pickling what we have. We'll let you know how they turn out!

As always, send us a message or comment below if you've tried garlic scapes and the different ways you have used them. We'd love to hear about it!

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Jessica Grant