Easy Garlic Scape Pesto
This garlic scape pesto is made with extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, Parmigiano, fresh lemon juice and garlic scapes, which are the stems from the flowers of the garlic plant. The scapes provide a mild, sweet, and fresh garlicky flavor that makes this a once-a-year delicious and unique pesto. It's a true seasonal treat!
Servings: 1 jar
Calories: 1736kcal
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup pine nuts lightly toasted
- 1 cup garlic scapes chopped, about 8–10 scapes
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more as needed
- ½ cup Parmigiano Reggiano finely grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Juice of ½ a lemon, optional but helps balance the sharpness
- Kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Lightly toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet or in the oven. They should be just barely toasted, not dark.
- Remove the tough ends and the flower bud from the scapes, then chop into pieces to make them easier to process.
- Add them to the bowl of a food processor along with the toasted pine nuts.
- Pulse the scapes and nuts several times until they’re very finely chopped.
- Add the olive oil and lemon juice, then process for about 5 seconds until incorporated and creamy.
- Add the Parmigiano and pulse a few times to combine. Taste and season with more salt and lemon juice to achieve your desired flavor.
- Transfer to a jar and top with a thin layer of olive oil to help preserve it.
Notes
- If your scapes are especially thick or have a strong garlicky bite, blanch them for 30 seconds in boiling water, then transfer to an ice bath. This softens the intensity while preserving their fresh flavor.
- Because the garlic scapes are sturdy, you can blend this longer than a basil pesto without risking discoloration or bruising.
- Double the batch and freeze leftovers in ice cube trays or small jars for a burst of summer flavor all year.
Nutrition
Calories: 1736kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 153g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 27g | Monounsaturated Fat: 91g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 70mg | Calcium: 942mg | Iron: 7mg
