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Garlic Scape Scampi

[heart_this] · Jun 29, 2009 · 54 Comments

Garlic Scape Scampi

Garlic scapes or the green tops of the garlic plant are often cut off while they are still immature to encourage the bulbs to grow larger. The garlic scapes are edible and generally have a milder flavour than the garlic cloves themselves. I first heard about garlic scapes last year but I had just missed them and I have been patiently waiting to try them since. This weekend I was lucky enough to spot some and I immediatly picked them up. While I was thinking about what to do with the garlic scapes the first thing that came to mind was a variation of one of my favorite dishes, scampi , with the garlic replaced with fresh chopped garlic scapes. Scampi is shrimp dish served in a garlic, butter and white wine sauce. Normally when I make scampi I toss the shrimp and sauce with pasta but this time I decided to serve the shrimp with some crusty bread to soak up all of the buttery, garlicky, sauce. I had heard that cooking garlic scapes would reduce their flavour or make them milder so I changed the recipe up a bit and added the garlic scapes closer to the end to try to retain as much flavour as possible. The garlic scapes did not disappoint! They had the garlic flavor that I enjoy so much but it was some how fresher and it went well in the scampi with the shrimp. With my first experiment with garlic scapes such a success I am looking forward to trying something else with them.

Garlic Scape Scampi

Garlic Scape Scampi

Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 2
ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 pinch red chili pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 pound shrimp (shelled and deveined)
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1/2 lemon (juice and zest)
  • 1/4 cup garlic scapes (finely chopped)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
directions
  1. Heat the oil and melt the butter in a pan.
  2. Add the red chili pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  3. Add the shrimp and saute until cooked, about 2-3 minutes per side.
  4. Remove the shrimp from the pan.
  5. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil.
  6. Simmer the liquid until reduced by about half, about 3-5 minutes.
  7. Add the garlic scapes and simmer until fragrant, about a minute.
  8. Add the butter, wait for it to melt and turn off the heat.
Similar Recipes:
Scampi
Scampi Pizza
Fiddlehead Scampi
Thai Lemon Shrimp
Garlic Scape Pesto on Fusilli with Garlic Scape Garlic Bread

6 Ingredients, Appetizer, Food, Gluten-free, Low-carb, Main Course, Recipe, Seafood, Shrimp

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    Looks like it was well worth the wait! Nice photo!

    Reply
  2. Ciao Chow Linda says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:25 pm

    Kevin – Your dish looks wonderful. I'll have to try it with my scapes. This morning I posted a bean dip using my scapes. Yesterday I made your blueberry-banana crumb cake. It was a big hit.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    Thanks for the info on galic scapes Kevin! Everything you make looks so wonderful!

    Reply
  4. Phoo-D says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    I love garlic scapes and shrimp together. They are a perfect match of flavors. This looks terrific!

    Reply
  5. Lindsay says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    I wonder if anyone has come up with a dish called "scape goat."

    Reply
  6. Mari at Once Upon a Plate says

    June 29, 2009 at 11:56 pm

    Kevin, this looks soo good!

    Brilliant idea to use the garlic scapes in Scampi ~ I think I have some ready for harvest in the garden so I hope to try this in the next couple of days.

    Your photos always make me drool. Very nice. 🙂

    Reply
  7. The Duo Dishes says

    June 30, 2009 at 12:21 am

    Scape scampi…why not! We hadn't heard of these things until maybe a month ago. Sounds like something we'd like though because we love garlic!

    Reply
  8. Christelle says

    June 30, 2009 at 12:51 am

    This looks so fresh and tasty!! Love the photo too! 🙂

    Reply
  9. maybelles mom says

    June 30, 2009 at 12:51 am

    I love garlic scapes and put them in everything during their season.

    Reply
  10. Eunice says

    June 30, 2009 at 1:02 am

    Perfect timing with this recipe. I don't know if you know the Foodshare program. Last week, their weekly food box delivery included garlic scapes. I'd never seen them before & didn't know how to cook them, so they're sitting in my fridge. Perfect time to try your scampi recipe!! Thank you, Kevin!

    Reply
  11. Morta Di Fame says

    June 30, 2009 at 1:12 am

    I can totally eat the scapes like string beans! So good!

    Reply
  12. ttfn300 says

    June 30, 2009 at 1:35 am

    yum yum! i've got some scapes i need to use in my fridge 🙂

    Reply
  13. Manggy says

    June 30, 2009 at 1:47 am

    Ooh bring on the buttery garlicky goodness! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Christina says

    June 30, 2009 at 2:18 am

    How cool! You learn something new everyday!

    Reply
  15. Jenn says

    June 30, 2009 at 2:20 am

    I love shrimp scampi. This is a first I've heard of scape. I guess I've learned something today. I've got to keep an eye out for those.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    June 30, 2009 at 3:08 am

    Wonderful recipe. I look forward to trying it. Bookmarked! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Deborah says

    June 30, 2009 at 3:18 am

    I love garlic – I'll have to keep my eyes open for garlic scapes.

    Reply
  18. Treehouse Chef says

    June 30, 2009 at 4:04 am

    Love the recipe and the garlic tutorial! Way to go!!!

    Reply
  19. Mary says

    June 30, 2009 at 4:27 am

    Kevi, this is another winner. In my area garlic scapes are called garlic whistles. This is the only time of year that they are available here.

    Reply
  20. Rosa's Yummy Yums says

    June 30, 2009 at 5:09 am

    That scampi dish looks scrumptious!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  21. ♥Rosie♥ says

    June 30, 2009 at 10:04 am

    A fresh and tasty looking dish Kevin and great photos.

    Reply
  22. Joanne says

    June 30, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    This is a great idea for scapes! I discovered them a few weeks ago and made a pesto out of them.

    Reply
  23. lisa says

    June 30, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Those shrimp are beautiful! I never see scapes in our markets here, but hopefully some da.

    Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    June 30, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    it works! Yum

    Reply
  25. Pam says

    June 30, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Great idea Kevin, too bad I used all mine up in a pesto!

    Reply
  26. Chef Fresco says

    June 30, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    We've been making lots of shrimp recipes too lately. This scampi looks absolutely delicious!

    Reply
  27. Peter M says

    June 30, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Kevin, I'll bring the homemade bread…dunk away in that garlicky goodness!

    Reply
  28. Cookin' Canuck says

    June 30, 2009 at 4:16 pm

    What an original idea! I will have to keep my eye out for garlic scapes.

    Reply
  29. Mila says

    June 30, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    Kevin-this looks so beautiful and delicious! I am always amazed how gorgeous your pictures come out!

    Reply
  30. Marjie says

    June 30, 2009 at 5:49 pm

    Great idea! I never heard of garlic scapes before. My dearly beloved has developed an allergy to garlic, but these might just be mild enough to let him eat scampi again. Thanks, Kevin!

    Reply
  31. giz says

    June 30, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    This is the type of dish I appreciate being served on a patio – such a summer beauty.

    Reply
  32. [email protected] says

    June 30, 2009 at 7:41 pm

    Love this shrimp dish. Using the scapes like this is a great idea!

    Reply
  33. Anonymous says

    June 30, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    Hi Kevin! Just a quick remark. Scampi actually just means shrimp in Italian 😉

    Reply
  34. Juliana says

    June 30, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Wow, this shrimp with garlic scape looks so good…I think I want as a main dish and not appetizer…yummie! Great picture.

    Reply
  35. OhioMom says

    June 30, 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Yum! I love garlic scapes, one of those little special treats we get at the farmers market 🙂

    Reply
  36. Jan says

    June 30, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    I didn't know about scapes, and we have grown our own garlic this year. Thanks for the info, I'll bear it in mind for next year. This dish looks and sounds divine.

    Reply
  37. Melissa says

    June 30, 2009 at 11:25 pm

    I've never cooked with garlic scapes. How unique and delicious!

    Reply
  38. gee says

    June 30, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    I have a stupid question, what kind of white wine did you use? I don't drink white wine so I'm not sure which one to buy when a recipe calls out for one.

    Reply
  39. Erika says

    July 1, 2009 at 12:16 am

    Looks perfect! For years if a restaurant had Shrimp Scampi on a menu, that is all I would order!

    Reply
  40. Paula says

    July 1, 2009 at 12:39 am

    Perfect timing! I also saw the scape posts last year, and am ready to try them this year. This is a great way for me to try them! Yum!

    Reply
  41. MaryBeth says

    July 1, 2009 at 1:01 am

    I would eat at least 2 bowls of this…

    Reply
  42. Becky says

    July 1, 2009 at 3:19 am

    i've only recently discovered scapes…this would put the bunch that i just got to good use. lovely photos! i've been following your posting for some time now.

    Reply
  43. bobby says

    July 1, 2009 at 3:23 am

    Any kind of dish with shrimp and garlic is something I am sure to enjoy.

    Reply
  44. We Are Not Martha says

    July 1, 2009 at 4:00 am

    Those shrimp look beautiful! And the more garlic the better for me 🙂

    Sues

    Reply
  45. HoneyB says

    July 1, 2009 at 9:46 am

    Looks yummy (like ALWAYS!)

    Reply
  46. Kevin says

    July 1, 2009 at 11:21 am

    gee: Any dry white wine would be good. The rule of thumb seems to be to use a wine that you would enjoy drinking.

    Reply
  47. Jaime says

    July 5, 2009 at 12:41 am

    I had never heard of garlic scapes before – i love the flavor of garlic and if these make it better,I should try them!

    Reply
  48. Anonymous says

    July 8, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    I've never heard of scapes before, but I love garlic. Great dish!

    Reply
  49. Anonymous says

    July 16, 2009 at 10:13 am

    Superb Garlic has so many benefits. Garlic is considered one of the oldest medicines in the world and is used in making remedies for various ailments and physiological disorders. Garlic is one of the most effective antimicrobial herbs, as it has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anthelmintic and antiseptic properties.Consuming large amounts of garlic can cause heartburn, especially during pregnancy. If left in contact with skin of mucous membranes, fresh garlic can also cause local irritation and ulceration.

    Garlic

    Reply
  50. Meaghan says

    April 24, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    This recipe looks fantastic! I am actually hosting a garlic scapes linky party at 2sisters2cities.com as part of our Fresh Produce Tuesday series. I would love if you submitted this recipe!

    -m

    Reply
  51. Anonymous says

    March 25, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    where are the answers. to these questions?

    Reply
  52. Donald Hansen says

    December 28, 2022 at 12:20 am

    where do you suggest I get garlic shapes?

    Reply
    • kevin says

      January 2, 2023 at 5:01 pm

      Garlic scapes are a very seasonal ingredient that is only available during the spring in northeastern U.S. and Canada. If they are not available regular shrimp scampi is a goo option: Shrimp Scampi Recipe

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. July/11/2021, Week 68 – Menutia says:
    July 11, 2021 at 4:01 pm

    […] using this recipe, but replacing the shrimp with chicken, thanks to the daughter who doesn’t like shrimp. I […]

    Reply

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