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
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
- Heat the oil and melt the butter in a pan.
- Add the red chili pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the shrimp and saute until cooked, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove the shrimp from the pan.
- Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil.
- Simmer the liquid until reduced by about half, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic scapes and simmer until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the butter, wait for it to melt and turn off the heat.
Looks like it was well worth the wait! Nice photo!
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.
Thanks for the info on galic scapes Kevin! Everything you make looks so wonderful!
I love garlic scapes and shrimp together. They are a perfect match of flavors. This looks terrific!
I wonder if anyone has come up with a dish called "scape goat."
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. 🙂
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!
This looks so fresh and tasty!! Love the photo too! 🙂
I love garlic scapes and put them in everything during their season.
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!
I can totally eat the scapes like string beans! So good!
yum yum! i've got some scapes i need to use in my fridge 🙂
Ooh bring on the buttery garlicky goodness! 🙂
How cool! You learn something new everyday!
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.
Wonderful recipe. I look forward to trying it. Bookmarked! 🙂
I love garlic – I'll have to keep my eyes open for garlic scapes.
Love the recipe and the garlic tutorial! Way to go!!!
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.
That scampi dish looks scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
A fresh and tasty looking dish Kevin and great photos.
This is a great idea for scapes! I discovered them a few weeks ago and made a pesto out of them.
Those shrimp are beautiful! I never see scapes in our markets here, but hopefully some da.
it works! Yum
Great idea Kevin, too bad I used all mine up in a pesto!
We've been making lots of shrimp recipes too lately. This scampi looks absolutely delicious!
Kevin, I'll bring the homemade bread…dunk away in that garlicky goodness!
What an original idea! I will have to keep my eye out for garlic scapes.
Kevin-this looks so beautiful and delicious! I am always amazed how gorgeous your pictures come out!
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!
This is the type of dish I appreciate being served on a patio – such a summer beauty.
Love this shrimp dish. Using the scapes like this is a great idea!
Hi Kevin! Just a quick remark. Scampi actually just means shrimp in Italian 😉
Wow, this shrimp with garlic scape looks so good…I think I want as a main dish and not appetizer…yummie! Great picture.
Yum! I love garlic scapes, one of those little special treats we get at the farmers market 🙂
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.
I've never cooked with garlic scapes. How unique and delicious!
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.
Looks perfect! For years if a restaurant had Shrimp Scampi on a menu, that is all I would order!
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!
I would eat at least 2 bowls of this…
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.
Any kind of dish with shrimp and garlic is something I am sure to enjoy.
Those shrimp look beautiful! And the more garlic the better for me 🙂
Sues
Looks yummy (like ALWAYS!)
gee: Any dry white wine would be good. The rule of thumb seems to be to use a wine that you would enjoy drinking.
I had never heard of garlic scapes before – i love the flavor of garlic and if these make it better,I should try them!
I've never heard of scapes before, but I love garlic. Great dish!
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
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
where are the answers. to these questions?
where do you suggest I get garlic shapes?
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