Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
If you’ve ever grown your own garlic, you might have noticed the spiral-shaped shoots that suddenly pop up in the centre of the stem, usually about a month or so before the garlic bulbs themselves are ready to be harvested. Even if you haven’t grown your own, you’re likely to see these long, green spirals at your local farmers market around this time each year.
If you’re wondering what the heck they are, you’re not alone. Many people don’t know what they are because we don’t usually see them in supermarkets. But these shoots are edible, they’re garlicky and they make an excellent pesto, among many other things. They’re called garlic scapes, and if you haven’t tried them, you are missing out my friend.
I first tried garlic scapes at a farmers market a few years ago and I was hooked. They weren’t in season at that time, but I found a vendor selling jars of pickled scapes. This intrigued me since I had never even heard about garlic scapes before, let alone tried them. The minute I tried the pickled variety I knew I had stumbled upon something special. I couldn’t believe I had never known about these little delicacies!
I did a little research and found out that the scapes tend to shoot up from the plants sometime around mid-June. It was only November! And I couldn’t get any more pickled scapes because I had bought them at a market away from home while Ryan and I were on our honeymoon. And now I had to wait until June!
Well, June did eventually come and I found some fresh scapes at one of our local farmers markets. I had never pickled or canned anything at that time and was still a little intimidated by the process. But I did love to cook, and I really loved to use local, seasonal ingredients in my cooking as much as possible. So I decided to make garlic scape pesto instead.
Watch: How to Grow and Harvest Garlic Scapes
Related: How to Grow, Cure & Store Garlic At Home
I can’t remember exactly how that first batch turned out, but Ryan seems to recall it being a little too garlicky. I’m not sure exactly how I made it or what recipe I followed, but I do know that when I made it today it was a total hit with our family. It was definitely garlicky, but it was mild enough that our 10-month-old daughter happily devoured a bowl of garlic scape pesto pasta I whipped up for dinner.
All I did to make it was take the key ingredients for a good pesto and substitute chopped garlic scapes for basil leaves. Pine nuts, parmesan, a squeeze of lemon, a pinch of salt and a little olive oil were all I needed to turn the often overlooked garlic scapes into a savoury, bold pesto that was perfect over pasta, with chopped tomatoes and olives to balance out the flavour.
I used about 15 garlic scapes and got about 1½ pints of garlic scape pesto, which is way more than I ever seem to get out my basil when I make traditional pesto. So on top of being really yummy, garlic scape pesto goes a long way and has the added bonus of being a frugal food source since it gives garlic growers a “bonus” harvest before the rest of the garlic is ready.
We used about half a pint over top of a pot of pasta, gifted another half pint to our neighbours and the last half pint should store well in the refrigerator for about a week. Alternatively, if you want to preserve it for longer you can freeze it. I will definitely be making more to freeze for later so we can continue to enjoy garlic scapes when they are no longer in season.
Pesto of all kinds, however, is not safe for canning. There are no safe, reputable home canning suggestions, so do not attempt to preserve it by canning it. Instead, you can freeze your garlic scape pesto in jars or freezer bags to preserve it. I like to use my FoodSaver to freeze mine as it sucks all the air out and ensures it won’t get a build up of ice (that will turn to water) inside the pack, which helps to maintain the quality of the pesto for a much longer period of time.
Related: Radish Top Pesto Recipe
If you’ve never grown your own garlic, I highly encourage you to give it a go! You can easily grow it even if you don’t have much space. It’s a great candidate for container gardening if all you have is a balcony or a small yard. We have raised beds and we’re growing 28 heads of garlic this year in approximately 6 square feet of space. And not only will we get 28 heads of garlic, we also get 28 garlic scapes! Not too shabby:)
* 2021 Update: I originally wrote this 4 years ago when we were living in our old house. This year we’re growing 96 head of garlic and we increase our planting every year because we use garlic in EVERYTHING! Click here to learn more about how to grow, cure and store garlic at home for year-round use.
Of course, if you aren’t yet growing garlic, it’s too little too late for this year. Garlic does best when planted in the fall, so plan ahead for next year. But in the meantime, hit up your local farmers market and grab some scapes! Aside from pesto, they are excellent when sautéed and added to stir-fries, eggs, frittatas, pasta dishes or mixed vegetables. And, of course, you can pickle them too. I definitely will be! But for now, garlic scape pesto is oh-so satisfying. And it tastes like summer… at last.
Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- About 12 to 15 garlic scapes, roughly chopped
- 1 cup of olive oil
- 1 cup shredded parmesan
- 1 cup pine nuts (you can substitute walnuts or almonds)
- juice from half a lemon
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
- Chop garlic scapes into small pieces that will fit in your food processor. You can use the entire scape, including the bulb.
- Combine all ingredients in food processor and blend on high until all ingredients are mixed well and you are happy with the consistency of the pesto. * Use a spoon or spatula to scrape the sides of your food processor if some ingredients are sticking to the sides or not blending well.
- Once blended, transfer to a glass jar (like a Mason jar) and store in the fridge for up to a week, in the freezer for up to 6 months or in Food Saver bags in the freezer for a year or more.
- Enjoy as you would any other pesto, on pasta, bread and as a garlicky dip!
Notes
* Some people suggest not adding the parmesan if you intend to freeze pesto as the taste of the cheese can change. I haven't had that experience, but you might choose to omit the cheese and add it in once defrosted, right before you are ready to eat your pesto. You can just mix the parmesan in by hand instead of using the food processor.
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It’s easy to romanticize homesteading, but the truth is that those homegrown vegetables, those freshly laid eggs, that loaf of bread rising on the counter, and that pantry full of home-canned food takes time, effort and dedication. It doesn’t “just happen” overnight!
But if you work on learning one new skill at a time and gain confidence in it before moving onto the next, one day you’ll be looking back and marvelling at how far you’ve come.
That’s where I’m at now. Life today looks a lot different than it did 10 years ago, when our homesteading and self-reliance journey was just beginning.
Back then we still lived in our city condo and were just beginning to dabble in all of this stuff. But my husband Ryan and I felt a sense urgency to start pursuing a more self-reliant lifestyle, and we committed to taking small steps, one day at a time to make that vision a reality.
Over the years we’ve continued to put one foot in front of the other, adding new skills and tackling new projects along the way that have helped us get to where we are today.
While there’s always more we want to learn and do, as I look around me right now, I’m so grateful that we took those first steps, especially considering what’s happened in the world over the past few years!
If you’re also feeling the urgency to take the first (or next) steps toward a more self-reliant life, this is your final reminder that today is the last day to join The Society of Self-Reliance and start levelling up your homesteading and self-sufficiency skills so that you’ve got what it takes to:
• Grow your own groceries
• Stock your pantry
• Create a natural home
• Get prepared
• Learn other important life skills like time management for homesteaders, goal setting and how to become your own handyman
And more!
If you’ve been feeling called to level up your self-reliance skills (because let’s be honest, we’re in for a wild ride these next few years with everything going on in the world), now is the time to heed that call.
Link in profile to enroll before midnight tonight, or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/society
#homesteading #selfreliance #selfsufficiency #homesteadingskills #preparedness
There are so many reasons to grow your own food at home:
💰 Saves you money at the grocery store
🍴 Healthier than conventionally grown food
🔑 increases your overall food security
🫙 Gives you an abundance to preserve and share
But perhaps the number one reason is because it just tastes better!
Not only does food taste better when it’s freshly picked or allowed to ripen on the vine, there’s something about putting in the work to grow something from a tiny seed and then getting to see it on your dinner plate that just makes it so much more satisfying than anything you’ll ever buy from the store.
Plus, having to wait all year for fresh tomatoes or strawberries or zucchinis to be in season makes that short period when they’re available just that much more exciting!
With the world spinning out of control and food prices continuing to rise, it’s no wonder more people are taking an interest in learning to grow their own food at home. But that also means changing our relationship with food and learning to appreciate the work that goes into producing it and the natural seasonality of organically grown fruits and vegetables.
(It also means learning to preserve it so you can make the most of it and enjoy homegrown food all year long).
In my online membership program, The Society of Self-Reliance, you’ll learn how to grow your own food, from seed to harvest, as well as how to preserve it so you can enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor all year long!
You’ll also learn how to grow and craft your own herbal medicine, detox your home, become your own handyman, and so much more (because self-reliance is about more than just the food that we eat… But that’s a pretty good place to start!)
The doors to the Society are now open for a limited time only. Click the link in my profile or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/society to learn more.
#foodsecurity #homegrownfood #homesteading #selfreliance #selfsufficiency #homegrownfoodjusttastesbetter
If you’ve been watching events unfold over the past few years and you’re feeling called to start “cutting ties” with the system and begin reclaiming your independence, The Society of Self-Reliance was made for you!
When I first launched this online membership program last year, my goal was to create a one-stop resource where members could go to learn and practice every aspect of self-reliance, as well as a space to connect with other like-minded people pursuing the same goal. And that’s exactly what you’ll get when you join!
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn inside the Society:
🌱 Food Security and Self-Sufficiency: Learn the art of growing and preserving your own food, ensuring you and your loved ones have access to nutritious meals year-round.
🌿 Natural Living and Herbal Medicine Mastery: Discover the secrets to creating a low-tox home and and to growing, making and using herbal remedies to support your family’s health, naturally.
🔨 Essential Life Skills: Learn essential life skills like time management, effective goal setting and practical DIY skills to become more self-sufficient.
As a member, you’ll enjoy:
📚 Monthly Video Lessons: Gain access to our ever-growing library of video lessons, with fresh content added each month.
📞 Live Group Coaching Calls: Participate in our monthly live group coaching calls, where we deep dive into a different self-reliance topic every month, and do live demonstrations and Q&A’s.
🏡 Private Community: Join our private community forum where you can ask questions, share your progress, and connect with like-minded individuals.
I only open the doors to The Society once or twice each year, but right now, for one week only, you can become a member for just $20/month (or $200/year).
In today’s world, self-reliance is no longer a luxury, a “cute hobby,” it’s a necessity. Join us inside The Society of Self-Reliance and empower yourself with the skills you need to thrive in the new world!
Link in profile or visit thehouseandhomestead.com/society to learn more.
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Got out for an early morning harvest today. Been up since 3am, contemplating life, the future and the past, the order of things…
There is a rumbling right now, not just in North America, but around the world. Many of us can feel it, and know we are on the precipice of something big.
I’d been hearing about this new song that’s become an overnight viral sensation, written by an (until now) unknown singer named Oliver Anthony. His new song Rich Men North of Richmond has had 14 million views on YouTube in the past week alone, so I decided to check it out.
I also saw a clip of him playing a Farmers Market last week, and anything that has to do with Farmers Markets always has my attention;)
I can’t tell you how many tears I’ve already cried listening to that song. If you’ve heard it already, you probably know what I’m talking about, and if you haven’t, I highly recommend giving it a listen. All I can say is it’s been a while since a song resonated so deeply with me, and in this strange new world, I know I’m not the only one.
One of the lines in Anthony’s song is “Livin’ in the new world, with an old soul,” and that’s something I think so many of us in the homesteading community can relate to.
Trying to cling to better days; To a simpler time; To the old ways, all while doing our best to get by in the new world.
The world has changed drastically in the last few years especially, and it’s set to change in immense ways over the next few years. Today I’m feeling thankful for people like @oliver_anthony_music_ who give a voice to what so many are feeling right now.
Know that if you’re feeling it too, you’re far from alone. And while the future may feel uncertain and even a little scary, remember that if we stand united, we the people are a force to be reckoned with.
(Continued in comments…)
Another garlic harvest in the books!
Garlic is easily one of my favourite crops to grow. It’s pretty much a “set if and forget it” crop. We plant in the fall and leave it to overwinter, fertilize a couple times in the spring, start watering only once the ground starts to dry out, and then harvest in the summer. We can even plant a fall succession crop after our garlic if we want so it really makes great use of garden space all year round.
Over the years we’ve managed to become completely self-sufficient with garlic. We now grow enough to eat all year (and then some!), plus we save our own seed garlic and usually have extra to sell or give away. And around here fresh, organic garlic ain’t cheap, so it’s a good cash crop for anyone who’s serious about selling it.
It took me a few years to really get the hang of garlic, but it’s one crop I’m now very confident with (knock on wood, because it’s always when we make statements like this that next year’s crop fails! Lol.)
A while back I compiled a comprehensive guide to growing, harvesting and using garlic both as an edible and medicinal crop. This is usually only available as part of a paid bundle (or in the fall 2022 issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine if you’re a subscriber;), but for a limited time I’m offering it for free, no strings attached!
Plus you’ll also get access to my step-by-step video lesson on planting garlic so you can set yourself up for success with your garlic crop this year.
Comment “Garlic” below or head to thehouseandhomestead.com/garlic-guide to get your free copy!
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#garlic #garlicharvest #homesteading #selfsufficient #selfsufficiency #selfsufficientliving #selfreliance #homegrown #groworganic #growfoodnotlawns #gardenersofinstagram #homesteadersofinstagram
Going through photos and videos from our trip to the @modernhomesteadingconference and the vast majority are of our daughter having the time of her life!
Even if I personally got nothing else out of this gathering (which I most certainly did), watching her discover her own love of this lifestyle outside of what we do at home made my heart grow three sizes!
Homesteading is about so much more than homegrown food and self-reliance. It’s about passing on invaluable skills and an understanding of and respect for our connection to the land that provides for us to the next generation.
Being around so many other kids and families who are also pursuing a homesteading lifestyle helped show our little one that this is a movement that is so much bigger and greater than what our own family does on our little plot of land. This is a lifestyle worth pursuing, with a community unlike any other.
Glad to be back home and more excited than ever to involve my kids in everything we’re doing. But also, I think I speak for my whole family when I say we can’t wait to go back someday!
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#homesteading #modernhomesteading #raisinglittles
If you’re simply looking for ways to save a little extra cash this summer and live well for less, here are 12 tried and tested frugal living tips for summer that you can use to save money this season without sacrificing a thing.
Head over using the link in my bio!
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/12-frugal-living-tips-summer/
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A brand new issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine just dropped!
In this issue:
🌱 How to forage and use five common edible and medicinal weeds
🏠 A sustainable, affordable alternative to traditional homes, greenhouses and more
👨👩👧👦 Tips for managing a homestead while raising a family (big or small!)
🫙 What to focus on when preserving food for true food security
🌹 How to grow and arrange your own cut flowers at home
🍓 The many ways to preserve summer berries (including 5 delicious recipes!)
💇How to make your own all-natural herbal hair care products at home
🧑🌾 Why “community sufficiency” is the new self-sufficiency
And more!
Visit modernhomesteadingmagazine.com (or click the link in my bio) to subscribe or login to the library and read the latest issue.
Plus, be sure to check out all of our past issues as well! There’s a wealth of information in our library on everything from farming and gardening to cooking and canning to herbal medicine, natural living and so much more!
*** This will be the last quarterly issue! ***
This little magazine has grown so much over the past 4 years and 32 issues, and now it’s time for another exciting evolution.
I’m excited to announce that we will be moving to an even more robust annual publication with the intention of offering the first ever print edition this fall if there is enough demand.
I’m also excited to announce the brand new Modern Homesteading Magazine blog, which is currently under construction and will be launching soon. While we will still be maintaining digital subscriptions, the blog will be accessible to all, free of charge, so that more people might benefit from the empowering and increasingly important information that we cover in each issue.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this issue happen! @homesteadingfamily @oatsandhoneyhomestead @omnivore.culture @thetaylor.leigh @doeraydesign (and more who don’t have IG pages;)
And a HUGE thank you to everyone who has subscribed over the years. Modern Homesteading Magazine would never have become what it is today without each and every one of you.
#homesteading #modernhomesteading #selfsufficiency
If you’ve ever grown your own garlic, you might have noticed the spiral-shaped shoots that suddenly pop up in the centre of the stem, usually about a month or so before the garlic bulbs themselves are ready to be harvested.
These are garlic scapes, and believe it or not- they make delicious pesto! Get the recipe through the link in my bio- https://thehouseandhomestead.com/garlic-scape-pesto/
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This honey and chive blossom vinaigrette is a frugal, easy and healthy homemade salad dressing that pairs beautifully with fresh garden salads all season long.
Get the recipe through the link in my bio.
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/chive-blossom-vinaigrette/
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Whether you live in the city and grow a few herbs on your balcony, have a few backyard chickens in the suburbs or live in the country and have a larder full of enough home-canned food to survive the apocalypse, if living a more homemade, homegrown, self-sufficient lifestyle is important to you, Modern Homesteading Magazine was made for you!
Read it today through the link in my bio!
https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com/
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This radish top pesto recipe makes good use of the edible radish greens that often get discarded once they’re separated from the root. The end result is a peppery, slightly spicy twist on a classic pesto recipe.
A perfect condiment for all your summer snacking!
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/radish-top-pesto-recipe/
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I have 2 bunches waiting on me to make a decision.
I’ve made Garlic Scape Pesto but… with Fennel Fronds added.
It was amazing!!! 😋
When I make garlic scape pesto, it has a sharp flavor (which I love, but no one else here does). I put it little glass jars and freeze for about 5-6 months and it mellows quite a bit. Something summery to look forward to in the winter!
I would like to water process my garlic scape pesto to save freezer space and keep them on a shelf. I do this for salsa and jams etc in a canning pot.
Hi Sheila,
Please do not water bath can pesto. Garlic scapes and the other ingredients in this pesto, including the oil, are not safe to water bath can and can develop botulism because the ingredients have too high of a PH (not acidic enough) and the heat from boiling water just can not penetrate all the way through this thick pesto to kill all possible bacteria. The only safe tested way to preserve this pesto is to freeze it. It’s just not worth the risk to try to can it. Stay safe.
Thank you so much for the jar of the Scape Pesto.. and to think you only made 2 jars and gave us one! So wonderful to have good , generous, thoughtful neighbours!