Garlic Scape Pesto- Don’t let this classic farmstand ingredient pass you by this season without making some pesto! This is one of the easiest ways to add the bright flavor of garlic scapes to a dish. I’m going to show you how to use garlic scapes in pesto, and share some ways to use this easy sauce. You will love making this every Summer!

Pesto Made With Garlic Scapes

Is pesto always made with basil? No, not always! If you have visited The Copper Table before, you may have tried my red pepper pesto, or my pesto made with oregano. We are using garlic scapes, those green curly stalks you have probably seen at the Farmers Market (or grocery store if you’re lucky).

What else is there to love about this recipe? For one thing, it will make your Summer pasta dishes really sing, because there is nothing quite like the flavor of garlic scapes!

Also, it comes together with few ingredients and very little time.

Beyond Pesto What Else Can You Make With Garlic Scapes?

This is a question I overhear being asked of farmers every season at the Farmers Market while shopping for my own ingredients in the produce stand. Pesto is probably the number one thing made each Summer using them. But, you can do more with them than just make pesto!

I’ve got a whole post on the blog that will show you all you need to know about what to do with scapes that you should check out! I learned a lot about scapes when I worked at an organic farm that specializes in growing garlic.

I also have this lovely garlic scape compound butter that you should most certainly make, since I know you will probably have some scapes left after making this pesto!

That is a big part of what this blog is all about- helping people cook homemade meals with fresh ingredients they find at the grocery store, farmstand, or CSA share and answer those “what do I do with this?” questions. I’d love for you to visit the bio page for The Copper Table to learn more about me and the blog, and how I can help you make great food you will love!

Ingredients For Garlic Scape Pesto

This list is not a complete one, you’ll find a full list in the recipe card. I wanted to talk a bit about some of the ingredients here in the post to simply give some additional info about them.

Olive Oil- Don’t skimp on quality here, bad olive oil will make for a less tasty pesto. If your oil is older or expired, it will make your pesto bitter.

Lemon Zest- This adds a freshness and brightness I think you’ll really like! You don’t find it in pesto recipes often, but it is really nice here.

Garlic Scapes- Watch for browning on the stalks, and they should be a nice vibrant green color.

An important note regarding the nuts- be sure your walnuts are unsalted.

Ingredients needed for garlic scape pesto.

How To Make Garlic Scape Pesto

The full details are found in the recipe card, but I wanted to touch on some things that make this recipe different from all the other garlic scape pesto recipes out there that make it stand out. This comes together in much the same way as making most any pesto, we are just doing some additional things to punch up the flavor.

Sauteed garlic scapes. Yep, we are cooking some of the scapes to let them get all browned and earthy and mild and yummy. We are leaving some raw, so that the flavor profile is really deep from having both cooked and raw scapes. All we are doing is sauteing them with a little oil until they are a little bit browned and fragrant. I’ve got great info down in the recipe card you won’t want to miss.
Toast the nuts! This is really important to add even more flavor. We will also be using a combination of walnuts and pine nuts. They are really great together!

These are just some steps that make this pesto extra special, and I wanted to highlight them. If you have made pesto before, you will find this recipe to be pretty straightforward. Even if this is your first time making pesto, you should find this to be an easy recipe!

Pesto ingredients in a food processor bowl.

Garl;ic scapes in a pan. — Add the garlic scapes to a non stick skillet.

Garlic scapes after browning. — Add the garlic scapes to a non stick skillet.

Ways To Use Garlic Scape Pesto

I love this sauce! Here are a few ways I like to use it:

Pizza base
Toss with pasta
Spoon over grilled chicken or steak
Condiment for sandwiches or burgers
Stir into roasted vegetables

These are just a few of many ideas. If you have used this pesto in other ways than what is listed here, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

How To Store Pesto

Normally, I don’t like to freeze garlic scapes because it kills a lot of their flavor. However, this pesto can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month and still taste great.

To store in the refrigerator, place the pesto in a glass or plastic container that has a lid and add a thin layer of olive oil over the top. This will keep the pesto from discoloring. You can refrigerate it for up to two weeks.

I hope you love this garlic scape pesto! If you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you in the comments. To get all the latest updates straight to your email, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. Happy Cooking!