This is the kind of recipe that makes you feel like a kitchen magician! Garlic scape pesto is my summer flex. It’s creamy, bold, and just garlicky enough to make people ask what’s in it. The scapes are softer, sweeter than cloves—and when you blend them with walnuts and lemon? Magic. Slather it, swirl it, spoon it—this one’s a keeper.
And this is what they look like—those wild, twisty, curly stalks that shoot up from garlic bulbs like they’re reaching for the sun. You’ve probably walked right past them at the market without realizing they hold the key to the dreamiest pesto ever!
Whether you're swirling it into pasta, spooning it onto grilled veggies, or spreading it on toast this pesto is not your average sauce. It’s your new signature.
💡 Savvy Tip:
Blanch your garlic scapes for 30 seconds before blending. It softens the texture, tames any bite, and makes the pesto beautifully smooth and vibrant green. (Then shock them in ice water to keep that color poppin’.)
Ingredients
Garlic scapes: About 1 cup (1 bunch or 10-13 scapes), trimmed and chopped into 1-inch pieces. Discard the bulbs and woody ends.
Walnuts: 1/2 cup toasted walnut pieces (or pine nuts or pecans).
1. White Marble Mortar & Pestle Brings out the oils and aromas of garlic scapes and walnuts in the most old-school, satisfying way. Gorgeous on the counter, too.
2. Olivewood Cutting Board A beautiful, durable board that makes prepping those curly garlic scapes feel like a ritual (and it photographs beautifully if you’re sharing!).
3. Matte Gold Measuring Spoons Precise measuring + aesthetic perfection. Adds a little elegance to your mise en place.
4. Storage and Canning Glass Jar The best way to store your pesto. Bonus: looks adorable in the fridge or as a hostess gift.
5. Rustic Stoneware Serving Bowl Perfect for tossing your pasta with pesto or displaying a dollop as part of a charcuterie spread. Elevates every bite.
Directions
Prepare the scapes: Trim just below the bulbs and woody ends of the garlic scapes. Chop the remaining scapes into 1-inch pieces.
Combine ingredients: In a food processor or high-speed blender, add the chopped garlic scapes and basil. Pulse until combined.
Add walnuts: Add the walnuts to the food processor and pulse again until they're combined with the scape mixture.
Emulsify with olive oil: With the food processor running, slowly stream in the olive oil until the pesto is emulsified and has a uniform look.
Add cheese and lemon: Add the Parmesan cheese and lemon juice, and blend until everything is combined.Season: Season with salt and pepper to taste.