It’s garlic scape season! Garlic scapes sprout up from the garlic bulb underground. They are picked in late spring or early summer, and if left unharvested, they would bloom into purple flowers. By harvesting garlic scapes, the garlic plant channels its energy into the underground bulb, diverting it from the flowers.
Garlic scapes are a vivid green, firm, curly stalk. They taste just like garlic but are much milder in flavor.
Garlic scapes may be lesser known but eating them has big benefits—eating the entire garlic plant reduces food waste, buying garlic scapes supports local farms, and garlic scapes are great for your health and a wonderful addition to meals.
Borealis Farm grows garlic scapes, like all their produce, organically, leaving out toxic pesticides and herbicides which are harmful to the environment and your health.
For another great garlic scape recipe check out the garlic scape friggione.
Rainbow summer salad with peanut dressing
Use garlic scapes in place of scallions or garlic in most recipes, such as a stir fries or frittatas. Scapes can also be used to make a pesto, in salad dressings, and they can be pickled.
This simple salad uses many raw vegetables—providing strong, delicious flavors and a satisfying crunch. The 9 different in-season local plants give this salad a fresh taste and pack a nutrient punch. The gorgeous colors make this salad irresistible. The dressing is a balance of sweet, sour, and creamy flavors. Top with a protein such as edamame, tofu, fish, or chicken to create a balanced entree.
Recipe makes 4 servings
Ingredients
Salad:
- 2 garlic scapes
- 1 bunch rainbow radishes
- 1 bunch carrots
- 1 scallion
- 10 shelling peas
- 1 small red cabbage
- ¼ cup basil microgreens
- ¼ cup rainbow microgreens
- Edible flowers (garnish)
Dressing:
- 3 Tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 1.5 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon agave (or sugar)
- ½ teaspoon crushed ginger
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp olive oil
- ¼ tsp crushed garlic
- 1 lime, juiced
Directions
- Chop and arrange all of the fresh produce.
- Mix all of the dressing ingredients. Add water as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
- Enjoy!
Photo and recipe credit to Lindsay Schwartz, on behalf of Borealis Farm.
Visit The Art Nichols Cafe at Cheshire Medical Center on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for a pop-up farmer’s market provided by Borealis Farm in Surry, NH for all the ingredients in this recipe and more.