Garlic Scape Butter is one of my favorite ingredients to have on hand in the freezer or fridge. It adds a ton of flavor to breads, vegetables, and even steaks. Plus, it’s super easy to whip up in about ten minutes.
If you’ve never worked with garlic scapes before, you’re in for a treat. Garlic scapes are the stalk that shoots up from hardneck garlic in the spring. The stalk is harvested before it flowers so that the garlic will spend its energy into growing more garlic rather than flowering.
I’ve never seen garlic scapes at the grocery store. Instead, look for them in the spring and early summer at farmer’s markets. Unless, of course, you’re lucky enough to have your own garden and can harvest them yourself.
Garlic Scape Compound Butter is one of my favorite ways to use garlic scapes. The scapes have a garlicky flavor without being overpowering. Plus, they also have a bit of herby flavor that you don’t get from the garlic bulbs themselves.
Compound butters are an easy way to add extra flavor to so many different dishes. Top grilled meats, add to sautéed vegetables, make delicious garlic bread, or even add to sauces. Garlic Scape Butter will be a delicious addition to many of your recipes.
FAQs:
Compound butter is simply high-quality, unsalted butter that you mix together with additional ingredients such as fresh herbs, garlic, spices, etc. You can even use sweet elements for desserts or a combo of spicy and sweet, such as Hot Honey Butter.
Store compound butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month. I prefer to freeze mine for a longer shelf life. Simply roll the butter into a log, refrigerate it until firm, then slice into tablespoon size portions, and store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
> Blend with basil and olive oil for a delicious pesto sauce. (This also freezes well.)
> You can pickle them just as you would green beans.
> Slice and add to stir fry or other sautéed veggies.
> Add them to hummus just as you would garlic.
> Basically, use them for nearly any application that you would normally reach for garlic.
Ingredients for Garlic Scape Compound Butter:
- Butter: Use a high-quality, unsalted butter. Room temperature butter is much easier to work with.
- Garlic scapes: Most commonly found at farmer’s markets. I ordered mine from Misfits Market.
- Fresh herbs: I used a mix of chopped chives and parsley.
- Lemon juice: Provides a bit of acid, and adds a fresh flavor.
Ingredient Tip:
- What part of the garlic scape do I use? The bulb to tip tends to be stringy and tough, but the rest of the shoot is edible. Check that the cut end hasn’t become woody or hard. Simply cut off any bit that seems to be woody.
How to Prepare Garlic Scape Butter:
- Set the butter out to reach room temperature to make it easier to work with.
- Chop the garlic scapes into approximately 1-2 inch pieces, and rough chop the parsley and chives. Add to the bowl of a food processor, and blitz until finely chopped. You will need to scrape down the sides of the food processor a few times.
- Add the butter, lemon juice, salt, and garlic scape herb mixture to a medium bowl, and and use a spatula to mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Scoop the butter mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper, and roll into a log. Wrap it up and store in the refrigerator.
- Note: For longer storage, slice the log into tablespoon sized portions after it has hardened, and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.
How to use Garlic Compound Butter:
- Add a slice of compound butter to grilled steaks or fish for a fantastic finishing flavor.
- Make the best homemade garlic bread your family has ever had.
- Top baked potatoes with a slice, or add to mashed potatoes for a delicious herby flavor.
- Spread over corn on the cob.
- Steam veggies, then toss in garlic scape butter for an indulgent finish.
More Ingredient Recipes to Have on Hand:
- Homemade Taco Seasoning—This is always in our pantry for tacos and fajitas.
- Roasted Garlic—I roast 8-10 heads of garlic at a time, and freeze it.
- Spiced Simple Syrup—It’s a great addition to cocktails or to drizzle over baked goods, such as Pumpkin Bread.
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Ingredient Substitutions:
- Garlic scapes: If you want to make this recipe, and scapes aren’t in season, try substituting roasted garlic instead. It has a nutty flavor without the pungency of raw garlic. Begin with substituting half the amount of roasted garlic for the garlic scapes.
- Parsley and chives: Use any fresh herbs that you enjoy. Dill, green onion, rosemary, or basil are also great choices.
Recipe Notes:
- Parchment paper makes clean up a breeze. If You Care's parchment is unbleached and compostable.
- These stainless steel bowls nest inside each other for easy storage.
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Garlic Scape Butter
Garlic Scape Butter with Herbs is an easy way to add extra flavor to so many different dishes. Top grilled meats, add to sautéed vegetables, make delicious garlic bread, or even add to sauces.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup chopped garlic scapes
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, rough chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, rough chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Set the butter out to reach room temperature to make it easier to work with.
- Chop the garlic scapes into approximately 1-2 inch pieces, and rough chop the parsley and chives. Add to the bowl of a food processor, and blitz until finely chopped. You will need to scrape down the sides of the food processor a few times.
- Add the butter, lemon juice, salt, and garlic scape herb mixture to a medium bowl, and and use a spatula to mix the ingredients together until well combined.
- Scoop the butter mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper, and roll into a log. Wrap it up and store in the refrigerator.
Notes
For longer storage, slice the log into tablespoon portions after it has hardened, and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 105Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 31mgSodium 70mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g
Note: Nutritional information is an approximation. Different brands and/or quantities will change the nutrition profile.
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