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Every summer, harvesting garlic scapes feels like the unofficial kickoff to garlic season here on our homestead.
If you’ve never grown garlic before, those curly green stems that appear before the garlic bulbs mature are called garlic scapes. Cutting them off helps the garlic bulbs continue growing underground, and the bonus is that they’re completely edible.
As always, around here, not a single one goes to waste.
Some years, I spoon my homemade garlic scape butter into small mason jars and pair them with a fresh loaf of homemade sourdough bread for simple gifts that everyone loves. If you’d like to bake your own loaf, you can find my favorite homemade sourdough bread recipe here
Whether it’s melting over grilled steaks, spread across warm sourdough bread, or stirred into vegetables fresh from the garden, this is one of those recipes that disappears much faster than I ever expect.
What Are Garlic Scapes?
Garlic scapes are the flower stalks that hardneck garlic plants produce in early summer. They have a mild garlic flavor that’s less sharp than garlic cloves and are incredibly versatile in the kitchen.
If you’ve been wondering what to do with garlic scapes after harvesting them, garlic scape butter is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to preserve them.
Garlic Scape Butter
Ingredients
Method
- Wash your garlic scapes thoroughly and trim off the woody ends.
- Roughly chop the scapes into smaller pieces.
- Add the garlic scapes to a food processor and pulse until they are finely minced.
- Add the softened butter, lemon juice, and any optional inclusions.
- Blend until everything is evenly mixed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Two Ways I Store Garlic Scape Butter
Gift It in Mason Jars
Some years I spoon the butter into small mason jars, tie a ribbon around the lid, and include a fresh loaf of homemade sourdough bread.
It’s one of my favorite homemade gifts because it’s simple, practical, and made with ingredients straight from the garden.
I love using these small mason jars for homemade gifts.
Freeze It for Later
Most years I make several batches just for our family.
I spoon the butter onto parchment paper, shape it into a log, roll it tightly, twist the ends, and wrap it again in plastic wrap or vacuum seal it before freezing.
When I need some, I simply slice off a few rounds while it’s still frozen.
This method keeps beautifully for 6-12 months in the freezer.
Our Favorite Ways to Use Garlic Scape Butter
This butter rarely lasts long around here.
Some of our favorite ways to use it include:
- Spread over warm homemade sourdough bread
- Melted over grilled ribeye steaks
- Tossed with roasted potatoes
- Mixed into fresh vegetables from the garden
- Stirred into mashed potatoes
- Added to grilled corn on the cob
- Melted over chicken fresh off the grill
Honestly…it’s hard to find something it doesn’t make better.
I hope this garlic scape butter becomes a favorite in your home, just like it has in ours. Happy harvesting!
From our homestead to yours,
Eliza