Scapes: The Other End of the Garlic Bulb

This weekend as I toured my local farmer’s market, I noticed that multiple vendors were selling garlic scapes.  Resembling long, coiling sections of rope, this odd addition to my usual farmer’s market fare intrigued me and got me thinking about how I could integrate them into my cooking.

Scapes grow above-ground and are trimmed by farmers and gardeners to ensure that the majority of the energy utilized by the plant is directed towards the bulb.  Like the bulb, scapes are a delicious accompaniment to a variety of spring table fare.

I decided to keep my first attempt at cooking with them simple: I chopped the scapes up and placed them in a cast iron skillet with some olive oil.  They cooked slowly, almost like a clove of garlic would, and my wife noted that the kitchen had the distinct aroma of cooking garlic.

After about 12 minutes of cooking over low heat I placed the scapes on a salad and they were DELICIOUS!  Paired with sautéed asparagus, sautéed radishes, and field greens, the salad was a tasty and healthy accompaniment to my meal.