Garlic Scape & Lemon Butter (and 6 More Ways to use Garlic Scapes)

I’m mesmerized every spring by the curly, twirly wands that trumpet garlic’s July arrival. Garlic scapes are the flower stalk of garlic bulbs, emerging soon after the first leaves. They are best harvested when tender in color and crunch – the longer they spin in the garden bed, the woodier and tougher they become.

Like garlic, scapes are packed with immune-boosting properties that ward away vampires and other evil spirits. Though Bobby protests a-plenty, I nosh them raw regularly. Bottom line: when the weather is epic and the sun is singing, I’m determined to stay healthy so I can play, play, play!

For cooking, you can treat garlic scapes like, well, garlic. They are less potent in flavor but provide similar results – which is why scapes are such a gift to tide us over until the bulbs are ready.

I like to make garlic scape pesto and store it for seasoning, or you can chop the scapes and store them in the freezer in a tupperware for later use. But my absolute favorite way to store garlic is to stand them in a jar or vase and let them make a room beautiful. They are extraordinary works of art.

So, Garlic Scape and Lemon Butter. This is what’s known as a “compound butter” or “finishing butter.” Essentially, it is flavored butter that can be used for sautéing vegetables, scrambling eggs, searing meat and fish, stirring into soup or dolloping on top of a finished dish to add seasoning. My favorite way to use it is to smear a healthy dab of butter on Wide Awake Bakery Bread. Heaven in my mouth.

Six Circles Farm makes mind-blowing Scape a-Moli, scape pickles and other creations. Here are several more ways to rock Garlic Scapes this spring:

Garlic Scape and Arugula Soup

Sauteed Daylillies and Garlic Scapes

Vegan Garlic Scape Pesto

Pickled Garlic Scapes

Garlic Scape Carbonara

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