Description
- This Garlic Scape Pesto is a vibrant, emerald-green sauce bursting with the fresh, zesty flavor of spring garlic. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate seasonal bounty, transforming humble garlic scapes into a versatile, aromatic condiment that will elevate countless dishes. In just 20 minutes, with zero cooking required, you can create a batch of this flavorful pesto that’s miles beyond anything store-bought. It’s an ideal way to capture the essence of spring and summer, preserving its deliciousness for months to come.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1¼ cups (150 g) chopped garlic scapes (about 10–15 large scapes)
- ⅓ cup (45 g) pine nuts or almonds
- ⅓ cup (38 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Blend: In the bowl of a food processor or a high-speed blender, combine the chopped garlic scapes, your choice of nuts (pine nuts or almonds), grated Parmesan cheese, fresh lemon juice, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
- Process: Begin to blend the ingredients. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil through the feed tube. Continue to process until the mixture is completely smooth, or to your preferred consistency – some prefer a slightly chunky texture, similar to a natural peanut butter.
- Use or Store: Your fresh pesto is ready! Use it immediately to toss with pasta, spread on sandwiches, or swirl into soups. If not using right away, transfer the pesto to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days.
- To Freeze (for longer storage): For longer preservation, spoon the pesto into freezer-safe containers, small jars, or even ice cube trays. Be sure to leave a little room at the top for expansion. Freeze for up to 6 months. Once frozen in trays, you can pop out the pesto cubes and transfer them to a freezer bag for easy portioning.
Notes
- Adjust Texture: If you prefer a smoother pesto, process for a longer time. For a chunkier texture, pulse until just combined.
- Nut Alternatives: Walnuts or even sunflower seeds (for a nut-free version) can be used instead of pine nuts or almonds, offering slightly different flavor profiles.
- Cheese Options: While Parmesan is classic, you can experiment with other hard, salty cheeses like Pecorino Romano for a bolder flavor.
- Add Greens: For an even greener pesto or to stretch your batch, you can add a handful of fresh spinach or basil during the blending process.
- Thinning Pesto: If your pesto is too thick for your application (e.g., for dressing pasta), thin it out with a little extra olive oil or a splash of warm pasta water.
- Prevent Browning (for storage): To help prevent the top layer of pesto from oxidizing and turning brown when storing in the fridge, pour a thin layer of olive oil over the surface before sealing the container.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending, No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian, Modern American, Seasonal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (about 30 ml)
- Calories: 153 kcal
- Sugar: 0.58 g
- Sodium: 74.85 mg
- Fat: 15.25 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.58 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12.61 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.12 g
- Fiber: 0.59 g
- Protein: 2.98 g
- Cholesterol: 4.18 mg
Keywords: garlic scape pesto, garlic scapes, homemade pesto, no-cook pesto, spring recipe, easy sauce, freezer friendly