Garlic Scape and Basil Pesto

Garlic Scape and Basil Pesto

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 cup

Garlic scapes are an early-summer gift for garlic lovers, with a flavor of onions, garlic, and scallions—an ideal three-in-one addition for all sorts of savory recipes. Adding them to basil pesto is a brilliant way to use them.

This recipe combines fresh basil and garlic scapes along with pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. It takes just a few minutes to whip up in a food processor, creating a sauce with a vibrant garlicky-herb flavor.

What Exactly Are Garlic Scapes?

Garlic scapes are the long and curly, tender stems that grow from the center of hard-necked garlic. This type of garlic is the one most commonly grown in North America, and the scapes need to be removed so the garlic bulb can grow larger before harvest. The scapes are harvested in early summer—that's when to look for them at farmers' markets, or to harvest them from your own garden if you grow garlic. Once you try scapes, they will become a new favorite allium.

Which Part of Garlic Scapes Do You Use?

You can eat the entire garlic scape raw or cooked. The best and most tender part is below the bulb that forms in the middle of the scape. Similar to onions, if left on the garlic plant, this scape bulb would flower out and produce tiny garlic seeds.

The scape above the bulb can be tough and is not a good choice for a no-cook recipe like pesto. If you want to save the pointy ends, add them to a stir-fry or soup where they'll get cooked until tender.

How to Use This Lovely Garlic Scape Pesto

Toss the garlic scape and basil pesto with pasta or use it to top potatoes, rice, salads, chicken, beef, pork, or slices of mozzarella di buffalla. This pesto doesn't brown as fast as regular basil pesto, and it freezes beautifully so you can enjoy it throughout the year.

"The pesto is easy to whip up, and I appreciate the recommendations for making it to taste. I prefer less oil in pesto and had about 1/4 cup left over. The taste was perfect: a great garlic flavor against fresh sweet basil, and those semi-crunchy pine nuts and Parmesan...It's just waiting for pasta!" —Colleen Graham

Garlic Scape Pesto Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 12 large garlic scapes, bulb removed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1/2 cup)

  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil , divided and to taste

  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided and to taste

  • 1/2 cup pine nuts , or walnuts

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Garlic scape and basil pesto ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Add the garlic scapes, basil, and kosher salt to a food processor or blender.

    Add the garlic scapes, basil, and kosher salt to a food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Pulse a couple of times to achieve a rough mixture.

    Pulse the mixture in the food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Slowly start adding 1/2 cup of the olive oil.

    Slowly add oil to the mixture in the food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Stop processing and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

    Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. The texture of the final pesto is up to personal taste. If the sauce seems too thick for your preference, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil at a time and check again for your ideal consistency.

    Pesto mixture in a food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Once a smooth paste has been achieved, add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese and process until completely mixed in. Taste for seasonings.

    Add Parmesan cheese and process until completely mixed

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  8. Add the remaining cheese if you'd like a thicker and more savory paste, or leave as is if you're happy with the flavor and consistency so far.

    Add more Parmesan cheese if desired, and process until completely mixed in

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  9. Add the pine nuts and process at low speed until the nuts are roughly chopped and fully mixed in. The coarse nuts give the pesto a great texture.

    Add pine nuts to the pesto mixture in the food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  10. Place the pesto in a serving bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. Top with a thin layer of olive oil and place in an airtight container if you're not consuming it within an hour or so.

    Garlic scape and basil pesto in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Variations

  • Chopped walnuts are a good substitute for pine nuts.
  • Add one chopped avocado to the food processor to put a garlic scape twist on avocado pesto.
  • Substitute the basil with another fresh herb or mix of herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, or dill.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Store the garlic scape pesto in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Refrigerated, it will keep for about six to seven days.
  • To freeze, spoon the pesto into an ice cube tray or large muffin tin and place it in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container; the pesto will be good for at least six months.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
361 Calories
36g Fat
6g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 361
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g 47%
Saturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 311mg 14%
Total Carbohydrate 6g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 141mg 11%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 186mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)