If you love garlic, then you’ve got to try garlic scapes. Garlic scapes are the long green shoots that grow from the garlic bulb, and they are an amazing way to add garlicky flavor to your favorite dishes. They’re a bit milder than garlic cloves, which make them the perfect base for pestos, an addition to quiches, or even eaten straight up sauteed with a little salt.

What Are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic scapes are thin, vibrant green stalks that grow from the garlic bulb. They are long, curvy, and kind of look like a cross between chives and scallions. The stalk of the garlic scape also often includes a bulge on the end; that is actually a bud, and if the scape was left on the bulb, the bud would flower. In the past, garlic scapes were simply discarded by farmers in order to allow the garlic plant to channel all of its energy into the bulb. But in recent years, the scapes have become a culinary force in their own right, being sold by the bunch at farmers’ markets during a short period between spring and summer when they are in season.

How To Cook With Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes can be eaten raw or cooked up and added to a variety of dishes. Wash the garlic scapes, and trim the end and the bud. Many people discard the bud because it can be quite fibrous, particularly in raw preparations.

The scapes themselves can be pretty tough, so for raw preparations, they’re best served very thinly sliced as a garnish, or pureed for use in pesto, sauces, or soups. Blend them with some olive oil, parmesan cheese, nuts, and salt for a fresh pesto, Or chop up a small amount of garlic scapes and add them to your favorite blended salad dressing recipe,