Garlic Scape Pesto...it'll knock your socks off!

Garlic scapes!
I just love 'em!
What are they, you say??

Well, garlic scapes are the stalks of the hard neck variety garlic plant. 

They grow straight up and then form one or two loops.

After the stalk has formed one or two loops, you snip it off so the garlic bulbs will grow strong.

They are edible and when harvested young, 

they are tender and a lot more milder than the garlic cloves. 

They can be chopped up and  used in a stir fry or pesto...or really used any creative way you like in cooking.

Here's the pesto I made!

When I received garlic scapes in my CSA, 

I hadn't a clue what I was going to make with them. 

A little searching on the web....
and I was good to go!

This pesto is absolutely fantastic!!

Now,  let me tell you....this is for garlic lovers!  

This is some serious garlic intensity here people.

However, you can control the intensity by the amount you use on your pasta.

My hubs can't take a lot of garlic like I can,

and he totally loved it with the small amount I put on his serving of pasta.

This made a lot considering you only need about a Tbsp. per serving. 

I froze the rest in a couple of  ziploc bags. 

I scooped out heaping tablespoons, one at a time, and placed them in the ziplocs, just far enough away from each other so it will be easy for me to break them off to use as needed.

I also used a bit of this pesto in a recipe that called for chopped garlic. 

I just threw it in and it was fantastic!

Recipe:  Garlic Scape Pesto

approx.12 garlic scapes,  rough chopped

1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/2  cup almonds

approx. 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Throw chopped garlic scapes, parmesan cheese and almonds into food processor. 

Grind almost to a puree while adding olive oil through the feed tube.

Adjust olive oil as needed for consistency and taste.

Add salt and pepper to taste.