Looking for a delicious way to use up those vibrant garlic scapes? This Simple Garlic Scapes Butter is incredibly easy to make and adds a punch of fresh, garlicky flavor to any dish. It’s the perfect way to elevate your everyday meals with minimal effort.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This Simple Garlic Scapes Butter is a revelation! It’s incredibly quick to assemble, requiring just a few basic ingredients and a food processor. The resulting butter is incredibly versatile, offering a bright, slightly sweet, and pungent garlic flavor that enhances everything from grilled meats to roasted vegetables. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to utilize seasonal garlic scapes and impress your friends and family with a gourmet touch.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (about 4 ounces) garlic scapes, trimmed and roughly chopped
• 1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. First, ensure your garlic scapes are clean and trimmed. Discard the tough ends and any flowering parts. Roughly chop the remaining scapes.
2. Place the chopped garlic scapes into a food processor. Pulse a few times until they are finely minced.
3. Add the softened unsalted butter, salt, and pepper to the food processor with the minced garlic scapes.
4. Process the mixture until everything is well combined and the garlic scapes are evenly distributed throughout the butter. Scrape down the sides of the food processor as needed to ensure a uniform texture.
5. Once the butter is smooth and homogenous, transfer it to a small bowl or a piece of parchment paper.
6. If desired, you can shape the butter into a log by rolling it in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chilling it until firm.

Expert Tips / Pro Tips

To achieve the best texture, make sure your butter is truly softened but not melted. This will help it blend smoothly with the garlic scapes. When chopping the scapes, aim for a fine mince to avoid large fibrous pieces in your butter. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper before shaping the butter; the scape’s flavor can vary in intensity. For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Variations & Substitutions

For a richer flavor, you can substitute half of the unsalted butter with salted butter, and then adjust the added salt accordingly. If you don’t have garlic scapes on hand, you can substitute them with an equivalent amount of finely minced garlic cloves, though the flavor will be more pungent and less nuanced. Fresh herbs like chives or parsley can also be added to the butter for additional flavor and color.

Serving Suggestions

This Simple Garlic Scapes Butter is incredibly versatile. Melt it over grilled steaks, chicken, or fish for an instant upgrade. It’s also delicious spread on warm crusty bread, corn on the cob, or roasted vegetables like asparagus and potatoes. Try it on baked potatoes or stirred into mashed potatoes for a garlicky twist.

Storage, Freezing & Reheating

Store the Simple Garlic Scapes Butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer storage, you can freeze the butter. Shape it into a log or individual portions before wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil or a freezer-safe bag. Frozen garlic scape butter will keep for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw it in the refrigerator or at room temperature.

Nutrition Information

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes.

FAQ

What are garlic scapes?

Garlic scapes are the green, curly stalks that grow from the top of hardneck garlic plants before the bulbs mature. They have a milder, sweeter, and more delicate garlic flavor than mature garlic cloves.

How do I prepare garlic scapes for this recipe?

You’ll want to wash them thoroughly, trim off the tough woody ends, and any flower buds. Then, roughly chop them before adding them to the food processor.

Can I use garlic powder or minced garlic cloves instead of scapes?

Yes, you can substitute, but the flavor profile will be different. Use about 2-3 cloves of minced garlic or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder per cup of scapes. Keep in mind that fresh scapes offer a unique, milder, and sweeter garlic flavor.

How long does this garlic scape butter last?

When stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it should last for about a week.

Simple Garlic Scapes Butter

A quick and flavorful compound butter infused with fresh garlic scapes, perfect for finishing grilled meats, seafood, or vegetables.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8 tablespoons

Course: Condiment, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, French

Calories: 100

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Garlic Scapes Butter

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup garlic scapes trimmed and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground, or to taste

Method

 

Instructions

1. Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
2. Trim the tough, woody ends from the garlic scapes. Wash them thoroughly and pat dry.
3. Finely chop the cleaned garlic scapes. You should have about 1/2 cup of chopped scapes.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, chopped garlic scapes, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper.
5. Mix everything together with a fork or a spatula until well combined and the scapes are evenly distributed throughout the butter.
6. Transfer the garlic scapes butter to a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Roll it into a log, twist the ends, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up before slicing and serving.

Notes

This compound butter can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week or frozen for longer storage. Slice and serve over steak, chicken, fish, corn on the cob, or melted onto vegetables.