During my first meeting with the Corbin Hill staff, I heard my supervisor describe these unique hybrid plants with extreme joy. Up until that moment, I had no idea what a garlic scape was or how to use it. Since that meeting, I have come to appreciate the true value of this curly green stalk of garlicky goodness. Garlic scapes grow from the stem of hardneck garlic plants and forms an umbel or in other words a bulb that eventually produces white or purple flowers. Farmers typically remove the scapes from the stem of the garlic since the scapes direct energy away from the production of the main garlic bulb.
The flavor of garlic scapes reflects the peppery yet nutty flavors of garlic along with the grassy, onion-like flavor of chives. This distinctive flavor makes garlic scapes an extremely versatile ingredient in cooking. They can be sautéed, pureed, roasted and pickled. Many say that cooking the scapes suppresses the garlic flavor and brings out hints of sweetness comparable to roasted garlic. In terms of storage, garlic scapes can last in the fridge for up to three weeks if placed in a zipper-lock bag, left slightly ajar. They can also be frozen to store them for extended periods of time. Outside of scape’s culinary properties, their nutritional value parallels that of garlic cloves. Garlic scapes are rich in Vitamins A and C as well as fiber and antioxidants.
If you are lucky enough to come across garlic scapes, then be sure to cherish these rare beauties. As mentioned by the authors of Food Print, “With a tangle of green curlicued shoots in your midst, you aren’t just eating seasonally; you’re literally eating in the moment. The scape (aka garlic shoot or curl) represents a specific stage of growth of hard-necked varieties of garlic.” Garlic scapes are often grown seasonally from May to early July. Though hard to find in grocery stores, many farmers markets or farm share programs tend to offer them during this time of year. Over the next few weeks, Corbin Hill shareholders will be receiving a share of garlic scapes including some sourced directly from the Corbin Hill Farm located in Schoharie, New York.
Storm Lewis