Garlic Scape Pesto

23 Jul

B and I recently spent a weekend away with some friends on Galiano Island. Our good friend lives out there and he is kind enough to invite us out once a summer. For those who aren’t familiar with Galiano, it is an island in the southern Gulf Islands, situated between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of BC. It is also one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever been. As soon as you step on the island, it really does feel like your troubles melt away and the only thing to concern yourself with is which spot to explore, and what your next drink should be.

Galiano Island

Whilst we were visiting, the locals had set up a small market and we popped in to see what goodies we could find. I found some chewy caramels and a rustic wooden chopping board (pictured below), and I also tried garlic scape pesto for the first time. After sampling the pesto, the woman running the stall gave me her recipe, which I lost immediately, but my interest had been piqued. So this weekend, whilst at the Kitsilano Farmer’s Market, I picked up some garlic scapes for a mere $2 and went home to make pesto.

Garlic scapes

Garlic scapes are quite simply the tops of the hardneck garlic plant – the garlic bulb is under ground and the scape is the top part of the plant. You will find them in select grocery stores, but you will definitely get them from farmers markets. Because I had lost the pesto recipe, it was Google search to the rescue, where I discovered this recipe on Kitchen Gardeners International. The recipe couldn’t be easier, with only four main ingredients, plus salt and pepper.

Warning: if you decide to make, and subsequently, eat this pesto be warned that you WILL have garlic breath. And even two teeth brushings and a mouth-wash gargle, will not help. So, if you are going to eat this, make sure you convince you significant other to do so as well or it will be a lonely night.

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  1. Saving money and BYO lunches…yawn… « The Culinary Adventures of a Greedy Guts - August 6, 2012

    […] salad, mozzarella, dollops of smashed pea and fava beans, and a side of homemade garlic scape pesto […]

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