a quick note about garlic scapes

Lately, I've been getting a lot of questions about garlic scapes. I've been using them a good amount lately since they're in season, and you can buy a ton of them at the farmer's market these days for basically nothing. For those of you who don't know the garlic scape, here is a brief introduction. Garlic scapes are the curling tops of garlic plants, which are just as edible as the bulb of garlic. They are incredibly flavorful, and while they don't look like garlic, they have a great, slightly more mild, garlic flavor. They are almost a mix between a green onion and garlic, and can be cooked similarly. I love throwing them into veggies that I'm cooking up or pasta. Many people make garlic scape pesto, but I haven't tried that yet. One thing is for sure, these babies are only around for a short season, so if you see them at the market, get them! They are versatile and so incredibly delicious. Below is a quick and easy recipe, to show you how easily they can be incorporated into any dish. In an upcoming pasta recipe, you'll see these scapes used again. It is certainly a veggie that is a little outside of the box, but it has amazing flavor and is worth the 60 cents you'll pay at the market, I promise!

Sauteed String Beans and Garlic Scapes, with Toasted Almonds

1 tsp olive oil
1 large handful of string beans, halved if they are large
3 garlic scapes, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
salt and pepper to taste

delicious.

Heat 1 tsp of oil over medium heat
Saute the string beans and garlic scapes together over medium heat, until both start to brown slightly
Season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss in the toasted almonds. Give a quick toss, and cook for one more minute before serving
Enjoy!

beautiful scapes, with string beans.

And keep your eyes peeled for more garlic scape recipes to come!