Seasonal Vegan Spinach and Garlic Scape Pesto

Garlic lovers rejoice, and garlic haters stand back- this garlic scape pesto packs enough garlicky-punch to please even the most garlic-adoring pallet. It keeps it’s vibrant color longer than traditional basil pesto, and defiantly brings more of the garlic. The garlicky flavor is due to garlic scapes, the seasonal shoot of the garlic plant, rather than the more shelf-stable bulb. It’s mellowed slightly with the addition of spinach to cook the bite of the garlic scapes, but the number one flavor we’re bringing you here is garlic. It’s the perfect summer treat to spread on toast, sauce pasta, or dip veggies into.

Click for a Print-Friendly Version

What are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic bulbs that we get in stores are just part of the garlic plant- the long, twisting stalks (also known as scapes), are a seasonal garlic product with a similar, although more mild flavor. Garlic scapes are green and crunchy, with a texture similar to raw asparagus. In fact, one way to cook it is to grill it similarly to asparagus (although the resulting flavor is much more garlicky). If the stalks were left attached to the bulbs, the top bud would flower and the plants energy would go into sustaining the flowering plant. Because of that, farmers trim the garlic scapes, making garlic scapes a delicious biproduct of the garlic bulb. Garlic scapes can be used anywhere you would use garlic, but make sure to use about twice as much as the spiraling stalks are milder than the cloves.

Love Garlic? Try one of these recipes- with cloves or scapes!

• Roasted Black Bean Tofu-A High Vegan Protein Dish (uses garlic scapes!)
• Air-Fried Eggplant in Spicy Garlic Sauce with Jicama
• Creamy Garlic Sauce (Cashew Cream)
• Spicy Garlic Roasted Chickpeas Snack
• Spicy Vegan Cold Noodles, Sichuan Style

How to Make Garlic Scape Pesto

You’ll notice that this recipe only has one step- I think it’s the first recipe I’ve ever done that only has one step- because it’s really very simple. Blend all the ingredients together. You’ve made pesto. You’ll want to taste it, and make sure you’re happy with the levels of lemon, salt, etc. and adjust if you’re not. Other than that, you’ve done it!

How to Eat Garlic Scape Pesto

Because making this sauce is so simple, we thought that talking about using pesto would be more helpful. Once made, it will last a few weeks in the fridge, but you can always freeze excess pesto for an even longer shelf life. Here are a bunch of ways to eat pesto!

• Pile it on pasta- pesto makes a great alternative to red sauce, and this vegan pesto will be a delicious way to welcome summer. This is by far my favorite way to eat pesto.
• Part of pizza- traditional red, say goodbye. Pesto is a delicious pizza sauce.
• Topping toast- garlic scape pesto is a great way to top bread. Instead of butter or margarine, top with pesto! I love adding a sauerkraut in addition to pesto on my toast.
• Garnish a soup- a swirl of pesto is really the best-oh.
• Upgrade your sandwich- vegan mayo, mustard, and garlic scape pesto is a winning combo.
• Bake into bread- add a pesto swirl to your favorite loaf or rolls.
• Dip for veg- use it straight, or dilute with a vegan sour cream, but definitely dip your veggies in some vegan pesto.
• Make a simple grain salad- quinoa, kamut, farro, and more can all be upgraded to a salad with a few vegetables and a little bit of pesto.
• Mac and Cheese- but with pesto. More flavor, more fun!
• Oodles of Zoodles- like pesto pasta, but low-carb.

Any other great pesto ideas? Let us know in the comments. Until then, here’s our recipe for vegan garlic scape pesto.

Spinach and Garlic Scape Pesto

Click for a Print-Friendly Version

Like this post? Pin it!