What are garlic stalks?

What are garlic stalks?

HomeCooking Tips, RecipesWhat are garlic stalks?

A Guide to Buying and Cooking with Garlic Stems

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Channel Avatar Wyse Guide2021-06-14 18:30:02 Thumbnail
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Did You Plant Garlic? You Need to Cut Off the Stems!

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If you love garlic you need to try garlic scapes. Garlic scapes are the long green shoots that grow from the garlic bulb and are a great way to add garlicky flavor to your favorite dishes. They are a little milder than garlic cloves making them the perfect base for pesto an addition to quiches or even baked directly with a little salt. They are also a great way to add a pop of spring color to make your food photo-ready for social media.

Garlic scapes are thin vibrant green stalks that grow from the garlic bulb. They are long and twisty and look a bit like a cross between chives and spring onions. The stalk of the garlic scape often has a protuberance at the end; this is actually a bud and if the stalk were left on the bulb the bud would flower. Historically garlic scapes were simply thrown away by farmers so that the garlic plant could put all its energy into the bulb. But in recent years the scapes have become a culinary force in their own right and are sold by the bunch at farmers markets during a short period between spring and summer when they are in season.