Shake up the BBQ season with these Grilled Garlic Scapes . A fun and delicious side dish that has a mild garlic flavour. You might even have your guests asking “What the heck is a garlic scape”?
These tasty seasonal delights are in the same category as fiddlehead ferns. You know that unusual ingredient category. The thing you see at the market or the store and ask yourself, “What is that”?
Grilled garlic scapes are tender crisp with a smoky garlic flavour. Quick, easy and bold summer side dish. Makes a great appetizer too.
Also, known as the garlic stems, garlic tops, or garlic shoots. Similar to the texture of grilled asparagus. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and a sure-fire conversation starter. Have you tried them before?
What Are Garlic Scapes?
They are only available for a few short weeks at the beginning of summer. Until just a few years ago, I had no idea these existed. One day while at the Farmer’s Market I was super excited to pick up a big basket. Then I had to figure out how I was going to cook them.
Scapes are the tender stem and bud of the hardneck garlic, usually grown in Canada and the northeastern part of the USA.
Scapes appear before the garlic matures. Farmers remove them to allow the bulbs to thicken. This happens about 3 weeks before harvesting usually in June-July each year.
They sort of resemble long, curly green beans. You can eat the entire stem (except for the very top part that looks like dried grass).
The texture is similar to asparagus. The taste is along the lines of green onion or scallion. Certainly not as strong as raw garlic cloves.
Summer Grilled Garlic Scapes
Grilling these garlic shoots was the name of the game. Read on, and you will see how easy that is to do. I also froze some for enjoy when they are not in season.
The first time we placed them whole, directly on the BBQ grates. The second time (our preferred method) we used a grill basket. Here is all you have to do:
- Wash and dry the garlic scapes.
- Cut off the dry ends and thick stalks.
- Cut into long pieces (or leave whole if you prefer).
- Massage in some olive oil (I used butter flavoured).
- Season with salt (smoked sea salt is awesome here).
- Cook in a (affiliate) grill basket over medium heat.
- They are done when they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside (about 10 minutes).
- Remove from the heat.
- Add more seasoning (OMG (affiliate) black truffle salt is the best)
- ENJOY!
How To Use Garlic Scapes
Don’ stop with grilling (although this recipe is so good), there are lots of ways to enjoy these tender stalks:
- make compound butter
- sautee and use as a pizza topper
- great used in garlic hummus
- pickled garlic shoots are a fun foodie treat
- you can never go wrong with homemade soup
- use them in omelettes
- add them to salads
How Long Will They Last? If you get them fresh, you can store them in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Place them in water (similar to fresh herbs or asparagus), and change the water daily. You can also keep them in the crisper.
They also freeze well too. Wash and cut them into pieces and place in freezer bags. Some people prefer to blanch them, but this step is not necessary.
Love grilling? Give these recipes a try this summer:
- Hakurei turnips and radishes are grilled to tender perfection. A great side dish.
- Grilled Shishito Peppers are a fun and tasty appetizer. Let’s see who gets the hot ones?
- Looking for something simple and delicious? Grilled veggies are always a hit.
- Did you know you can grill fruit? Grilled balsamic strawberries are perfect for dessert.
- Move over apple pie, smoked apples are taking over.
- Grilled portobello mushrooms are great as a starter or light meal.
- Foil packet green beans are no fuss, no mess, and super delicious.
Now that grilling season is here, check out these recipe roundups. Perfect for BBQ parties!
Grilled Garlic Scapes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds garlic scapes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil ( I used butter flavoured)
- 1 teaspoons smoked sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black truffle salt (to garnish/optional)
Instructions
To Prepare The Garlic Scapes:
- Wash and pat dry garlic scapes.
- Cut off dry ends and thick stalk ends (the bulb at the end).
- You can choose to leave them whole if you wish, or cut them into long pieces. Place in a bowl.
- Massage them with the olive oil, and season with the smoked sea salt. You can also add pepper if you wish.
To Grill The Garlic Scapes:
- Heat the BBQ to medium.
- Oil a grill basket, and add the prepared garlic scapes.
- Grill for about 10 minutes, turning several times. Garlic scapes are done when they are slightly browned on the outside, and tender on the inside. Very similar to asparagus.
- Remove from grill, and season with black truffle salt.
- ENJOY!!
Michelle
Oh holy cow this looks amazing. I have never made scapes but always think about them when I see them in the store. Yum!
Homemade & Yummy
You really need to give this recipe a try. So delicious.
Sarah
I want some garlic scapes! I always look for them, but seem to always miss them at the farmer’s market. Boo. I’ll keep looking- this looks delicious!
Homemade & Yummy
I know, the season is so short…but they are delicious and worth the effort to track them down.
Dana
Garlic scapes are so much fun! I just roasted some a few weeks ago. I love the idea of grilling them, though. And since they’re so crisp and zippy, you really don’t have to fuss over them too much! A bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper!
Homemade & Yummy
YES…easy and delicious is the name of the game for summer cooking.
Natalie
My grandma has plenty of garlic scapes in her garden but I never know this we can eat. It seams that I’ve been missing a lot since this recipe sounds amazing. Super flavourful and healthy. I must try this that’s for sure.
Homemade & Yummy
Oh my….I wish I had a garden full of these.
Oana Iancu
Your garlic scapes are looking so fresh and vibrant! This is probably one of the very few ingredients that I’ve never cooked with nor tried but I LOOOOOOVE everything garlic so the taste would be right up my alley. Have to find some scapes and try this recipe
Homemade & Yummy
You really need to give these tasty little gems a try.
Kathy McDaniel
I will have to start looking for scapes at the farmers market. I love grilling season and grilled vegetables are the absolute best! This is a must try recipe for sure.
Homemade & Yummy
Hurry….the season is coming to a close on these tasty little guys.
Amy Nash
I love garlic and I’m positive I would love these even though I’ve never heard of garlic scapes before! They sound delicious and I’m going to be on the lookout for them now!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you can find some before the end of the season. It is long wait till next year.
Carmy
I never actually thought to use garlic scapes!! These is amazing – I’ll have to use my garlic scapes next time. I used to just toss them, not realizing what they were. I’ll try this next week 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
NOOOOO….don’t toss them….they are so delicious. You really are missing out.
Margy
Thanks for the tips. This is the first year I’ve had garlic scapes to use. – Marty
Homemade & Yummy
OMG…I wish we could get them all year long.
Amanda
I rarely ever get to have garlic scapes because of how quickly the go in and out of season. I hope there is still time for me to pick some up to make this!
Homemade & Yummy
I hope so too….the season is way too short for sure.
Chef Mireille
I am not a lover of things with strong garlic taste and havent been abelt to tolerate the strong flavor of scapes – but I know a lot of people who love them and this simple preparation will be great
Homemade & Yummy
Funny, when we grill them they are so mild. My husband does not like garlic, yet he likes these.
Veena Azmanov
You have me looking for these in the super this week. Can’t find them. I will keep looking. I remember my mom use to make these -and I do like them. Love how long and stringy they look just like ropes.
Homemade & Yummy
The season is VERY short…so I hope you can still find some to give this recipe a try.
Marisa Franca
Your scapes look so pretty and green. They look amazingly fresh! I wonder if the ones you find in the wild are stronger tasting. I asked some people from West Virginia — they have a lot in their woods — what they tasted like. They said they had a strong garlic taste – well, some people can’t even stand a whiff of garlic. We LOVE garlic. I’m on the search for them at the Farmer’s Market.
Homemade & Yummy
They tastes more like grilled asparagus with a hint of garlic. Hubby is not a garlic lover, but he likes these. Our granddaughter LOVES them!!
Tina
Wow! This sounds interesting, and I love the fact that pretty much every part of the plant is being used. I’ve never had this before but I would be happy to try it out. Looks like I’ll be livening up my BBQ sides this grilling season!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you can hunt some of these down and give this recipe a try.
Lauren Vavala
I’ve never heard of garlic scapes before, but they sound like something I would love! Now…to find them! Unfortunately, we don’t have any farmer’s markets near us at the moment, but I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for them – I love trying new things!
Homemade & Yummy
I wish they were available all year long….they can be hard to find.