Easy Garlic Scape Pesto
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Brighten up your meals with this easy garlic scape pesto recipe, a fresh twist on traditional pesto. This summer veggie spread is the perfect way to use up garlic scapes from your garden or the farmer’s market, and it tastes delicious on pizza, pasta, or as a dip for chips and crunchy veggies!
Exploring the Recipe
Garlic scapes are a fleeting treasure of late spring or early summer. These curly greens stalks grow from hardneck garlic plants and must be clipped back to successfully grow a head of garlic. Garlic scapes taste like a cross between garlic and green onions, making them an excellent ingredient to toss into summer dishes. As pesto, garlic scapes are thick and creamy and give off a strong garlic flavor that is not overly bold. This recipe is my favorite way to preserve garlic scapes from the garden as it can be eaten fresh or frozen and enjoyed later.
why You’ll Love This Recipe
Flavorful twist on a classic basil pesto— add basil for a more balanced flavor!
Quick and easy to make in one bowl, blender, or food processor.
This recipe freezes beautifully for long-term storage.
Great way to use up garlic scapes from the garden or farmer’s market.
Delicious as a spread for pasta, pizza, toast, eggs, grilled meats, or veggies
Ingredients & Substitutions
Garlic Scapes. Garlic scapes are not an ingredient that is commonly found at the grocery store, though they can be sold at farmer’s markets, co-ops, and specialty grocery stores.
Pine Nuts. If pine nuts are not available to you other nuts such as almonds or walnuts can be substituted.
Parmesan Cheese. If parmesan cheese is not available to you, you can use other hard cheeses such as Pecorino Romano or Asiago as a substitute.
Lemon Juice. I recommend using fresh lemon juice but bottled lemon juice can also be used.
Salt & Pepper.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For pesto, I highly recommend using a lighter flavored olive oil such as extra virgin olive oil vs other types, or you can use a different type of neutral oil such as avocado or sunflower oil as a substitute.
how to make Garlic Scape Pesto
Add the ingredients to a food processor or blender
Blend the ingredients until a smooth paste forms
Eat the pesto right away or store and enjoy later
Tools You’ll Need
Food Processor or Blender
Cutting Board
Spatula or spoon
Glass Jars or Freezer Containers
Step One: To a food processor or blender, add the chopped garlic scapes, nuts, parmesan, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Step Two: Blend the ingredients together until smooth, or the consistency of a slightly chunky peanut butter.
Step Three: Use the pesto immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 to 7 days.
tips for Making Garlic Scape Pesto
Use young, tender garlic scapes— older, thicker scapes can be too fibrous
Toast your nuts— for deeper flavor
Add oil slowly to control texture— thinner for pasta, thicker for spreading
Double the batch— freeze some for later!
To preserve the color— pour a thin layer of olive oil on top of the pesto before storing in the refrigerator.
Variations
Add fresh basil for a more rich and full flavor that reflects the summer season!
Use Pecorino Romano instead of parmesan for more of a punchy flavor.
Blend in sun-dried tomatoes for a bright twist.
Stir in plain Greek yogurt or ricotta cheese for a creamy dip.
Serving Suggestions
Use this garlic scape pesto recipe as pasta sauce, a sandwich spread, or even as a creamy dip for pita chips or fresh veggies. It’s wonderful to spread on a Steak Sandwich with Caramelized Onions or swirled into Spiraled Babka Bread. This recipe is especially delicious as a pizza sauce on this Squash Blossom and Ricotta Pizza.
Storage Instructions
Store in sealed jar or airtight container in the fridge for about 1 week.
For freezing, spread into glass jars or freezer containers and store for up to 6 months.
Pour a layer of olive oil on top to prevent browning and preserve flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the whole garlic scape?
Yes— you can use the entire tender green stalk, but trim any woody ends.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes! Skip the parmesan cheese and use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor or leave it out entirely.
Is this pesto spicy?
No, but it does have a bold garlic flavor. You can mellow it with more oil or add a splash of cream or milk.
Can I can this pesto for long-term storage?
No— pesto is not safe for traditional water bath canning or pressure canning because it is a blended food product. You can preserve your pesto by freezing in freezer safe containers.
final thoughts
Garlic scape pesto is one the easiest and most delicious ways to use up your garlic scape harvest or bounty from the market! This delicious garlic flavored pesto spread is a wonderful summer preserve that is bold and bright and adds garlicky flavor to your cooking all year long. This garlic scape pesto recipe is easily adaptable, quick to make, and full of seasonal charm. If you enjoy this recipe, be sure to try my Pesto & Italian Sausage White Lasagna or Spinach Pesto Pasta Salad.
xoxo Kayla
Garlic Scape Pesto
A bold and bright pesto made with fresh garlic scapes, basil, and Parmesan. This summer pesto is perfect for pastas, spreads, or freezing to preserve the season.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups (150 g) chopped garlic scapes, or about 10-15 large scapes
- 1/3 cup (45 g) pine nuts or almonds
- 1/3 cup (38 g) parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- To a food processor or blender, add the chopped garlic scapes, nuts, parmesan, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
- Blend the ingredients together until smooth, or the consistency of a slightly chunky peanut butter.
- Use the pesto immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 to 7 days.
- Freezing Instructions: To store your pesto long-term, spread the pesto into freezer containers or ice cube trays leaving room for expansion. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
178Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
