Garlic Scapes: What are they? – Frost Family Farm

Sullivan, T. [Photographer]. (n.d.). Flower Buds [Photograph]. Retrieved from StockSnap.io.

What is a Scape?

Garlic scapes are the curly, green shoots that emerge from hardneck garlic bulbs as they mature. These colorful tendrils, also known as garlic stems or garlic tops, are nature’s way of signaling the impending arrival of garlic bulbs. The scape emerges from the garlic plant once it has reached a certain stage of growth, usually a few weeks before the bulbs are ready to be harvested. It continues to lengthen and develop as it grows, eventually reaching a height of several inches to over a foot, depending on the variety of garlic and growing conditions. At the tip of the scape, small bulbils begin to form. These bulbils are essentially miniature cloves of garlic and can grow into new garlic plants if they are planted in suitable soil conditions.

Purpose of Scapes

If the scape is left to fully mature, it eventually forms a flower head composed of numerous bulbils clustered together. This flower head resembles a miniature version of the garlic bulb itself. The scape’s purpose is to produce flowers and eventually seeds, as part of the plant’s reproductive process.

Why Remove Them?

When growing garlic to cultivate big, bulbus cloves for culinary purposes or sale, it is best to remove the scapes. Why? Because allowing garlic plants to produce flowers and bulbils can divert energy away from bulb development, potentially resulting in smaller and less flavorful garlic bulbs. Therefore, many garlic growers prefer to remove the scapes to encourage better bulb growth. By trimming off the scapes, the plant’s energy is redirected from flower and seed production towards bulb development, ultimately resulting in larger and more robust garlic bulbs at harvest time. However, if the purpose is to produce seeds, then do not remove the scapes.

Nutritional Benefits

Beyond their flavor, garlic scapes offer a host of nutritional benefits. Like their bulbous counterparts, they contain compounds known for their potential health-promoting properties, including allicin, which has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Additionally, garlic scapes are a good source of vitamins C and B6, as well as minerals like manganese and selenium.

Culinary

Within the realm of culinary purposes, a treasure traditionally overlooked is the garlic scape. It boasts both flavor and nutrition into any culinary cuisine. Traditionally discarded, garlic scapes have gained popularity in culinary circles for their unique flavor and versatility in various dishes. While they may resemble green onions or chives, garlic scapes possess a distinct flavor profile characterized by a mild, garlic-like taste with subtle hints of sweetness and a delicate green freshness. However, in some instances, it may possess pungent garlic-like aroma. This distinctive flavor makes them a versatile ingredient that can enhance a wide range of dishes.

Cooking with Scapes

Garlic Scapes can be used to enhance numerous dishes and we are excited to share with you a few dishes that we have implemented scapes to bring more life to traditional meals.

Canning: Scapes can be canned/pickled to preserve their flavor and nutritional value. Once canned, scales can be added to sandwiches/hoagies, any style salad, and even charcuterie boards to add even more flavor to pair with other salty and savory foods.

Pesto: Traditionally, basil is used as a base for pesto. However, garlic scapes can create a vibrant and flavorful pesto sauce by adding the scapes nuts (normally pine nuts), parmesan cheese, and olive oil. Try experimenting by keeping the basil base and adding blended scapes to the mix as well!

Grilled: Garlic scapes can be easily grilled and roasted in the oven or grill. Add some olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other spices/ingredients. Then cook them until they are tender and slightly charred to add to a side dish or eat on their own.

Soups: Add garlic scapes to a soup or stew by simply chopping them finely and sauté then with onions before adding the broth and other vegetable and meat

Stir-fries: Garlic scapes can be quickly added to a stir-fry by chopping them up and pairing them with vegetables, meat, and sauce to add a burst of garlicky flavor and vibrant color.

So, before you think about throwing garlic scapes in the trash or your compost, remember that scapes can be utilized for a variety of purposes!

References

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Bhandari, D. R., Hardas, A., & Thapa, R. K. (2016). Garlic (Allium sativum L.): A Natural Ingredient with Medicinal Properties. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 5(9), 179–185.

Harris, J. C., Cottrell, S. L., Plummer, S., & Lloyd, D. (2006). Garlic (Allium sativum L.) and Heart Health. In S. R. H. Ho, L. N. Y. Thoo, & W. K. Ng (Eds.), Nutritional Health: Strategies for Disease Prevention (2nd ed., pp. 177–192). Humana Press.

Khanum, F., Umesha, S., & Bawa, A. S. (2008). Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Garlic in Chicken Sausages. Food Chemistry, 111(1), 152–157.

Kitchn. (n.d.). Garlic Scapes: What They Are and What to Do with Them. Retrieved from https://www.thekitchn.com/garlic-scapes-what-they-are-and-what-to-do-with-them-ingredient-intelligence-207851

McGrath, M. T. (2009). Hardneck Garlic. University of Vermont Extension.

Riaz, G., Chopra, R., & Kaushik, P. (2016). Garlic: Active Compounds and Health Effects. In G. Riaz & R. Chopra (Eds.), Garlic and Oil: Antioxidant Properties, Usage, and Benefits. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Singh, G., Maurya, S., Catalan, C., & De Lampasona, M. P. (2005). Composition, In vitro Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oil and Oleoresins Obtained from Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Buds (Cloves). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 85(9), 1579–1584.