Garlic Scape Info

In the center of the photo, the garlic scape is the curly stalk of the garlic plant. Harvested young, the stalk is a tender, curly capsule of mild garlic flavor.
(Sorry about the crooked image...the photo is stubbornly sideways.)

Health Benefits
Garlic is antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, antifungal and has many healing properties.

Uses
Since the garlic scape has a more mild flavor than the garlic bulb, it is often used raw or just slightly cooked. Ideas include:

• adding them raw to salads
• mincing and using as a garnish
  
• using them in place of garlic in soups, dips, salad dressings
• served alone or in combo with other foods, grilled, sauteed, roasted
• in pesto
• can be substituted in recipes for onions or garlic
  

Garlic Scape Pesto

Yield: About 2 1/2 cups

Classic pesto is pounded in a mortar with a pestle, but until I own these fine kitchen tools, I've been throwing all the ingredients in a blender and giving it a whirl. To give the pesto a hand made look, I added minced spinach. The recipe could also be made in a food processor. It is remarkably easy and quick to make, and very forgiving. Feel free to play around with the proportions!

Ingredients:
1 cup garlic scapes, roughly chopped (about 15 scapes)
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
1/2 cup walnuts (or pine nuts, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, etc)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
optional: 1 cup spinach leaves, minced (or other greens such as parsley, arugula, basil, etc)
salt and pepper to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon salt

Procedure:
Combine scapes, cheese, and nuts to food processor, blendor, or mortar. Process while slowly adding the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in minced greens.