Vibrant Garlic Scape & Basil Pesto Recipe
This Vibrant Garlic Scape & Basil Pesto is a fresh, flavorful twist on traditional pesto, combining the unique pungency of garlic scapes with the sweetness of basil and the nuttiness of toasted pine nuts. Ready in just 10 minutes, this versatile sauce is perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip, offering a bright and zesty flavor profile with a smooth, creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Ingredients
- ½ cup garlic scapes, ends trimmed and discarded, stalks cut into small 1-inch pieces
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup pine nuts (or almonds, toasted)
- 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan
- Pinch of Kosher salt
Instructions
- Test the garlic scape. Taste a small piece of raw garlic scape to assess its pungency. If it is too strong, blanch the chopped garlic scapes by pouring boiling water over them in a colander to mellow the flavor, then drain.
- Pulse the ingredients together. Place the chopped (and blanched, if needed) garlic scapes, fresh basil leaves, and toasted pine nuts in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until the mixture is very finely chopped, which can take 1-2 minutes depending on the toughness of the scapes.
- Season the pesto. Scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl. Add the lemon zest and lemon juice, then pulse again briefly. While the motor is running, slowly stream in the extra virgin olive oil. Scrape down the sides as necessary and process until the pesto is very smooth.
- Stir in the Parmesan. Transfer the pesto to a bowl and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until combined. Taste and add a pinch of Kosher salt as desired. Store the pesto in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Notes
- If the garlic scapes are very pungent, blanching helps mellow their flavor without overpowering the pesto.
- Toast pine nuts or almonds lightly in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant to enhance their flavor.
- This pesto can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Use the pesto as a sauce for pasta, a spread for sandwiches, or a dip for veggies and crackers.
Find it online: https://bitezly.com/vibrant-garlic-scape-and-basil-pesto-recipe/
