If you're growing hardneck garlic, don't let those curly garlic scapes go to waste! This garlic scape butter recipe makes a simple compound butter packed with irresistible garlic flavor. Spread it on warm sourdough bread, stir it into pasta, melt it over veggies, or use it to elevate grilled meats and seafood. If you have any garlic scapes left, try these pickled garlic scapes.
It's that time of year when garlic growers everywhere harvest garlic scapes and try to decide what to do with them. After all, there are so many possibilities! After harvesting mine last year, I made garlic scape pesto.
This year, I decided to make garlic scape butter. It's easy to prepare, delicious, and incredibly versatile. From topping grilled steaks to preparing garlic bread, this flavorful compound butter can be portioned and frozen, so you'll have it to use for months to come!
Garlic scape compound butter is freezer-friendly and easy to customize with fresh herbs. It also adds a ton of flavor to meats, vegetables, potatoes, and bread.
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What Are Garlic Scapes?
Garlic scapes are the flower stalks of hardneck garlic. Removing them helps the garlic produce larger bulbs because the plant's energy is redirected from flower production to bulb development. Garlic scapes have a milder flavor than garlic cloves and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Garlic scapes: Fresh garlic scapes (either grown or purchased)
- Butter: Unsalted butter
- Salt: Sea salt
- Optional Ingredients: Feel free to add fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, dill, chives, or rosemary. You can also add lemon zest, black pepper, or Parmesan cheese.
*See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Garlic Scape Butter
If you harvest the garlic scapes from your garden, remove the blossom end and the tougher fibrous parts from the bottom. Wash and dry them before continuing.
- Roughly chop garlic scapes and add to a food processor, then pulse until minced.
- Add softened butter and minced garlic scapes to a stand mixer. Season with salt. Add fresh herbs, if desired.
- Use a paddle attachment to mix the garlic scape compound butter ingredients on a low setting until evenly distributed.
- Scoop with a 1 tbsp-sized cookie scoop, add to a parchment-lined tray, then freeze.
Pro Tip: Another option is to add the compound butter to a piece of parchment paper, then roll it into a log. Freeze until hardened, then slice into portions and freeze in a ziplock bag.
Storage
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks or freeze in freezer bags for up to 12 months. Optionally, freeze in ice cube trays or silicone molds, then pop out and freeze in freezer bags.
Ways to Use Garlic Scape Butter
- Melt over grilled ribeyes
- Toss with roasted vegetables
- Use as a garlic bread spread
- Stir into mashed potatoes
- Top baked potatoes
- Melt over corn on the cob
- Use on grilled fish
- Mix into scrambled eggs
- Make garlic scape pasta
- Mix it with spruce tip pesto
FAQ
Can you freeze garlic scapes?
Yes! Garlic scapes freeze exceptionally well. Freezing them is a great way to preserve your harvest until you're ready to use it.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes, you can use salted butter. Just omit the added salt.
Can the whole garlic scape be eaten?
You can technically eat the entire garlic scape, but most people only eat the tender part. The other parts can be added to soups or broth for added flavor. I save mine in the freezer, then use them when pressure canning bone broth. The other parts can be freeze-dried or dehydrated, then ground into a powder to make garlic powder. The garlic powder can be used as is or mixed with sea salt to make garlic salt.
What part of garlic scapes is best to eat?
The tastiest part of a garlic scape is the tender section between the flower bud and the woody, fibrous lower section of the stalk.
Pro Tips
- Be sure butter is fully softened for easier blending.
- Use young, tender garlic scapes for the best flavor.
- If you don't have a food processor or mixer, you can still make garlic scape butter by finely mincing the garlic scapes with a knife, then combining them with softened butter using a rubber spatula.
- Taste before chilling and adjust the salt before portioning and freezing.
More Homesteading Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Garlic Scape Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 garlic scapes
- 1 lb. unsalted butter (4 sticks)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
Instructions
- Note: If you harvest the garlic scapes from your garden, remove the blossom end and the tougher fibrous parts from the bottom. Wash and dry them before continuing.
- Roughly chop garlic scapes and add to a food processor, then pulse until minced.
- Add softened butter and minced garlic scapes to a stand mixer. Season with salt. Add fresh herbs, if desired.
- Use a paddle attachment to mix the garlic scape compound butter ingredients on a low setting until evenly distributed.
- Scoop with a 1 tbsp-sized cookie scoop, add to a parchment-lined tray, then freeze.
Notes
- Another option is to add garlic scape butter to a piece of parchment paper, then roll it into a log. Freeze until hardened, then slice into portions and freeze in a ziplock bag.
- Be sure butter is fully softened for easier blending.
- Use young, tender garlic scapes for the best flavor.
- If you don't have a food processor or mixer, you can still make garlic scape butter by finely mincing the garlic scapes with a knife, then combining them with softened butter using a rubber spatula.
- Taste before chilling and adjust the salt before portioning and freezing.
Hilda Sterner says
I hope you try this recipe soon, then come back and let me know what you think!
Faith Foust says
It is SO good. Used it on some steaks fresh off the grill and it was the perfect touch.
Easy to make and I have my Tbsp patties in the freezer ready for the next time I need that garlic touch.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you so much, Faith! I really appreciate your review, enjoy!