{"id":20966,"date":"2022-06-09T13:36:37","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T13:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.magicalflavour.com\/what-are-garlic-scapes-how-to-use-garlic-scapes\/"},"modified":"2022-06-09T13:36:37","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T13:36:37","slug":"what-are-garlic-scapes-how-to-use-garlic-scapes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magicalflavour.com\/it\/what-are-garlic-scapes-how-to-use-garlic-scapes\/","title":{"rendered":"Cosa sono i germogli d'aglio? \u2013 Come usare i germogli d'aglio"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\tLovely Ember Photography<\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Just as ramps season<\/u><\/a> comes to a close and we\u2019ve eaten enough scallions<\/u><\/a> from early spring to get us through the rest of the season, we\u2019re heading back to the farmers\u2019 market<\/u><\/a> to see what the late spring and early summer harvest can bring us. Among rows of asparagus, spring lettuces, and the final moments of strawberries and rhubarb<\/u><\/a> is a lesser-known vegetable called garlic scapes that may seriously shake up your seasonal cooking. Here\u2019s everything you need to know. <\/p>\n

What are garlic scapes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve ever seen long green, slightly curly tubular plants in a bundle at the farmers\u2019 market that smell slightly like garlic, you\u2019ve likely seen a garlic scape. They can sometimes even look like green beans, says Lee Jones<\/u><\/a>, a farmer behind The Chef\u2019s Garden<\/u><\/a>. <\/p>\n

Garlic scapes are a by-product of garlic, explains Lawrence Tse<\/u><\/a>, farm manager at Dig<\/u><\/a>. The scape you see at markets is actually the flower of a variety of garlic called hard neck garlic. Farmers will often rip off the long green scape and flower so that the plant can concentrate the growing energy on making a flavorful bulb at the base of the plant, he says. But you can actually eat both the green scape and the beautiful purple flower at the top. <\/p>\n

The vegetable itself has a mild, sweet garlic flavor and a slight crunch, Tse says. Juliet Glass<\/u><\/a>, director of communications at FRESHFARM<\/u><\/a>, a non-profit that operates producer-only farmers\u2019 markets in the Mid-Atlantic region adds that they have a lighter, grassier taste than garlic and are great for people who want an herbaceous addition to meals or don\u2019t love a strong garlic flavor. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re really fun, so don\u2019t miss out,\u201d Glass says. \u201cThey\u2019re only around one time of year.\u201d <\/p>\n

Are there health benefits to garlic scapes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Garlic scapes have a very similar nutritional profile to the cloves themselves, explains Jessica Levinson M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N<\/u><\/a>., culinary nutrition and communications dietitian based in New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cGarlic scapes come from garlic, so they contain the same nutrients like antioxidants Allicin, vitamin C, and selenium, all of which are involved in heart health,\u201d she notes. <\/p>\n

People throughout history<\/u><\/a> have turned to garlic to treat many different conditions and even considered it an option to improve strength and performance. Other research<\/u><\/a> suggests garlic has heart health benefits and can help support the immune system against colds and viruses. <\/p>\n

Where can you get garlic scapes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You may be a little familiar with garlic scapes now, but it\u2019s only been in the last five or so years that they\u2019ve begun to spring up in large quantities in your local farmers\u2019 market, says Debra Moser<\/u><\/a>, co-founder of Central Farm Markets in Washington D.C. <\/p>\n

Most grocery stores won\u2019t have them in stock, in part because they\u2019re labor-intensive, but also because much of the garlic we see in American grocery stores actually comes from China, she notes. The variety they grow there, and the effort to ship the scapes with the garlic bulb make it very unlikely anywhere but a farmers\u2019 market will sell garlic scapes. Tse adds that most grocery store garlic is a variety called soft neck garlic, which is easier to grow and store longer, but they don\u2019t produce scapes. <\/p>\n

Instead, you\u2019ll likely see the green tubes sold in bunches from mid-May through June at your local farmers\u2019 market, Moser says. <\/p>\n

So, why are they so popular now? Tse hypothesizes that farmers have always used scapes, but they realized recently that it\u2019s a versatile product they can sell and encourage consumers to use. That way, farmers are able to make more profit on their harvest, and there\u2019s less waste in a wave of people wanting to use the entirety of a plant. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been conditioned in the United States to follow a grocery store perspective,\u201d Jones agrees. \u201cAs farmers\u2019 markets have emerged and as we look at plants, and what we\u2019ve learned from chefs, at every single stage of a plant\u2019s life it offers something unique for the plate.\u201d <\/p>\n

How to use garlic scapes. <\/strong><\/h2>\n

The good news is that garlic scapes are really hard to mess up. They add a nice garlicky flavor to dishes, they\u2019re difficult to overcook, and they add a nice pop of color to your meal, Moser says. <\/p>\n

Before you\u2019re ready to eat the scapes, be sure to store them in a zip-top bag in your refrigerator with a wet paper towel, Tse suggests. They should last a few weeks like this, he notes. Then, pick your favorite garlicky recipe and swap in garlic scapes anywhere you\u2019d like for cloves. Our experts also shared that it is best to cook the chopped scapes instead of enjoying them raw. Try these other cooking ideas. <\/strong><\/p>\n