Scapes!

Spike2 · June 8, 2017

I love it when the scapes come in and I get that fresh hint of what is yet to come!

ako1974 · June 8, 2017

Excellent! I'm harvesting a bunch after work today...

Father'sDaughter · June 9, 2017

Looking good!

I'm about a week or two away from a fresh batch of scape pesto.

Dak · June 9, 2017

I added my freshly cut scapes to the collard greens I cooked last night in my Instant Pot (pressure cooker). I think that's the only way I want to cook them now, they were sooo good.

ako1974 · June 9, 2017

I whipped up some scape pesto, using cashews. I love the stuff, until I get sick of it. Takes about 2 weeks of steady, daily eating. Then I make more and freeze it.

oakley · June 9, 2017

Thanks for the pesto idea. I should be getting scapes soon. I should be getting a good
amount and always need freezer ideas.

Father'sDaughter · June 9, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by ako1974

I whipped up some scape pesto, using cashews. I love the stuff, until I get sick of it. Takes about 2 weeks of steady, daily eating. Then I make more and freeze it.

I just wait until I've harvested all my scapes, then spend a day turning them all into pesto and freezing it in 1 cup batches. Thankfully scapes will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of months.

bower · June 9, 2017

I need to make better use of my scapes. Chopping and freezing didn't give me a winter long vegetable... maybe I should blanch.

I just love them in stir fries so much.

Finer diced a great pizza topping too.
Well I'm not sure when to expect them this year. We are having such a late spring but the garlic was the first thing up and growing as soon as snow came off the beds.

It would be awesome to get a batch of scapes in mid August as my bro is getting married and I know his bride ( a chef) would LOVE to have scapes to play with on the big day.

In fact I think I have a good chance of it, because an extra bed of Spanish Roja which scapes later... either one or the other! That would be great!

Needless to say our garlic is way later than you guys - I have harvested garlic in September one late year! So scapes in august is not out of the question...

Father'sDaughter · June 9, 2017

Bower, have you ever tried replacing the tomato sauce on a pizza with a smear of scape pesto? Talk about heavenly!!

bower · June 9, 2017

I admit I haven't tried scape pesto yet. Shortage of nuts!

But I have done pizza with a garlic/oil/rosemary/parmesan and chopped nuts instead of tomato.

That was some years ago though, in the days before soooo many tomatoes.

The scapes are very mild to me... in a stir fry, they make a great substitute for green beans (which are waaay harder to grow here). But in general we do lean toward strong garlic flavors in our food, lots of it.

So I imagine scape pesto would be mild by comparison to what we usually go for.

I can't believe I'm at the point of looking for substitutes for tomatoes.

(Yes I still have a few bags of em in the freezer)

Father'sDaughter · June 9, 2017

I find my scapes have a ton of heat to them. Maybe different varieties???

I will top my dough with the pesto, then add dollops of ricotta to knock the heat down a bit.

And now I'm craving pizza...

bower · June 9, 2017

Yes, could be varieties? Or perhaps it is climate?

I noticed that my two porcelains had a different scape taste - the Music had more of an oniony aftertaste while the Argentina were garlicky and definitely hotter.
Truth is I often cook them briefly, as in stir fry or mixed vegs, so perhaps I need to experiment more with the raw.

KarenD · June 9, 2017

This is my first year growing garlic.. I'm looking forward to trying scapes. Do I just cut a few of them or should I harvest all the scapes?

SueCT · June 9, 2017

When do you harvest the scapes? Last year was my first and I obviously waited too long for many of them because they were woody and got thrown away. I read somewhere that they are best very early, when they are only about 4-6" long and well before they start to curl. But it seems most photos are of the larger curling scapes. I have my first 2 or 3 curling now and a couple in that 4-6" range, but most have not come up yet, so now is the time to find out.

jmsieglaff · June 9, 2017

Harvest the scape off every plant. I harvest just as they start to curl. We roast them in the oven as a once a year extra special treat!!!!

June 8, 2017	#2
ako1974 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: New Jersey Posts: 109	Excellent! I'm harvesting a bunch after work today... __________________ Arne Zone 6A, Northern NJ

June 9, 2017	#5
ako1974 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: New Jersey Posts: 109	I whipped up some scape pesto, using cashews. I love the stuff, until I get sick of it. Takes about 2 weeks of steady, daily eating. Then I make more and freeze it. __________________ Arne Zone 6A, Northern NJ

June 9, 2017	#3
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Looking good! I'm about a week or two away from a fresh batch of scape pesto.

June 9, 2017	#4
Dak Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CA Posts: 494	I added my freshly cut scapes to the collard greens I cooked last night in my Instant Pot (pressure cooker). I think that's the only way I want to cook them now, they were sooo good.

June 9, 2017	#6
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	Thanks for the pesto idea. I should be getting scapes soon. I should be getting a good amount and always need freezer ideas.

June 9, 2017	#8
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	I need to make better use of my scapes. Chopping and freezing didn't give me a winter long vegetable... maybe I should blanch. I just love them in stir fries so much. Finer diced a great pizza topping too. Well I'm not sure when to expect them this year. We are having such a late spring but the garlic was the first thing up and growing as soon as snow came off the beds. It would be awesome to get a batch of scapes in mid August as my bro is getting married and I know his bride ( a chef) would LOVE to have scapes to play with on the big day. In fact I think I have a good chance of it, because an extra bed of Spanish Roja which scapes later... either one or the other! That would be great! Needless to say our garlic is way later than you guys - I have harvested garlic in September one late year! So scapes in august is not out of the question...

June 9, 2017	#13
KarenD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NJ Posts: 95	This is my first year growing garlic.. I'm looking forward to trying scapes. Do I just cut a few of them or should I harvest all the scapes?

June 9, 2017	#14
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	When do you harvest the scapes? Last year was my first and I obviously waited too long for many of them because they were woody and got thrown away. I read somewhere that they are best very early, when they are only about 4-6" long and well before they start to curl. But it seems most photos are of the larger curling scapes. I have my first 2 or 3 curling now and a couple in that 4-6" range, but most have not come up yet, so now is the time to find out.

June 9, 2017	#15
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Harvest the scape off every plant. I harvest just as they start to curl. We roast them in the oven as a once a year extra special treat!!!!