For a few short weeks every summer, garlic scapes are available in abundance at farmers markets, grocery stores, and farm stands. A quick cooking vegetable (very similar to green onion), grilled garlic scapes make a great side dish, and an easy way to incorporate some local produce into your meals!
If you want, you can even grow your own garlic scapes by planting hardneck garlic, (which is a win win…two harvests from one plant!) in your backyard garden.
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What Do Garlic Scapes Taste Like?
Garlic scapes are one of my favorite early summer vegetables. I’m honestly not sure if you can really call it a vegetable since it’s technically a flower stalk, but in this case we are preparing and serving it as one, so why not! Garlic scapes have a mild garlic flavor, with a distinct sweetness, much like young green onions.
Just as asparagus is delicious grilled and lightly seasoned, garlic scapes make a quick and delicious side dish you can cook up on the BBQ while grilling some chicken breasts or steaks.
You’ll need :
- 2 lbs fresh garlic scapes
- 2 tbsp oil or clarified butter
- 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- Salt
- Pepper
Such a simple recipe to make, you’ll be blown away by the flavor you can add to you meal.
- Brush or toss the garlic scapes in oil, and then toss them on a hot grill. You want to make sure the grill is really hot to get some nice grill marks on the scapes without them turning to mush.
- Grill the garlic scapes for a minute or two on each side, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
Remove the grilled garlic scapes from the grill, and drizzle with fresh squeezed lemon juice, or grilled lemon, and then top it of with the grated Parmesan!
Voila! Serve the grilled garlic scapes hot, as soon as possible.
Looking For More Garlic Scape Recipes?
Looking for more recipes to try? Try my:
Beer Steamed Mussels Tossed with Garlic Scapes
Have you ever cooked with garlic scapes??? Comment & Rate the recipe below, then take a picture and tag me on Facebook & Instagram: @earthfoodandfire . For more from scratch recipes follow me on Instagram & Pinterest
Grilled Garlic Scapes with Lemon and Parmesan
Ingredients
- 2 lbs fresh garlic scapes
- 2 tbsp oil or clarified butter
- 1 whole lemon
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
- pinch Salt
- pinch Pepper
Instructions
- Brush or toss the garlic scapes in oil, and then toss them on a hot grill. Make sure the grill is really hot to get some nice grill marks on the scapes without them turning to mush.
- Grill the garlic scapes for a minute or two on each side, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
- Garnish the grilled garlic scapes with grated Parmesan, and freshly squeezed lemon.
- Serve immediately.
I never knew that garlic scapes were a “thing,” and I used to live in garlic-land. 🙂 Our garlic is already beyond this lovely green stage, so I’ll have to remember to try this next year while everything is still green!
There’s always next year! On the plus side, you’ll have wonderful garlic bulbs soon!
I have these growing on the side of my house. I had no idea they were edible!
O no! So much garlic ! Haha, it’s ok I never knew you could eat them until I went to cooking school!
I bet these garlic scapes would go well with a delicious prime rib!
They sure would be! Any steak really!
I’ve never seen anything like this before! Looks delicious!
I love this idea! What a great summer side dish!
They are really good! Very similar to grilled asparagus in texture actually!
I hadn’t thought of grilling our garlic scapes! This looks delicious!
I will have to try grilling the garlic scapes, Markus – it sounds delicious with the lemon and parmesan. That will be the first time I try it that way. Although, I do love that basil and garlic scape pesto, too! 🙂