Change Up Your Pesto By Substituting Basil With One Flavorful Ingredient

Mixing garlic scapes with basil and other ingredients

Alternatively, if you think you might miss the basil flavor in pesto, there's a way to find a middle ground. For instance, if your favorite pesto recipe calls for 2 cups of basil, try using 1 cup of basil and 1 cup of garlic scapes instead. This will provide that garlicky taste while still incorporating some basil.

However, using garlic scapes in pesto is just the beginning. In addition to basil, you can mix in various ingredients with these flavorful stalks to create a distinctive pasta sauce. Non-traditional pesto recipes often include salad greens such as arugula, spinach, or radish greens. Herbs like oregano, mint, sage, and cilantro can also be great additions. Avocado and broccoli are other options to consider. Essentially, any green, flavorful ingredient from your garden can be used to craft new pesto variations.

Moreover, it's not just garlic scapes or basil that contribute to the flavor of your pesto. If you're not avoiding nuts, ingredients like pine nuts can add a delightful crunch and a rich, buttery taste. Other nuts or seeds, such as walnuts, cashews, or sunflower seeds, can enhance your garlic-infused creations as well. These will be processed into fine pieces alongside the garlic scapes and basil.

Lastly, sun-dried tomatoes are a popular addition in some pesto recipes. If you're looking to mix things up, try blending them with the garlic scapes before processing everything together. This will yield a garlicky tomato pesto that serves as a delicious alternative to traditional marinara sauce.

Picking the perfect garlic scapes for pesto

If you're looking for garlic scapes to add to your pesto, you can typically find them in the produce section of most grocery stores. They may be labeled as "scapes" or occasionally as "whistles." If your local supermarket doesn't have them, consider checking out nearby farmers' markets, which often feature unique finds like garlic scapes and other rare vegetables. Asian grocery stores are also excellent places to search for garlic scapes.

If you grow your own garlic, you'll notice the green shoots emerging from the soil about a month before the garlic bulbs are ready to harvest. The scapes are ready to be harvested when their stalks curl and they easily snap off the bulb with minimal effort. If they bend instead of breaking, wait a few more days before trying to pick them again. The extra time will be worth it.