Garlic Scape Pesto

I decided to do a CSA this summer, just so that I would get a bunch of random food and learn to cook new things. Well, last week, I got something called “garlic scapes” and I had not ever heard of these before. Aren’t they pretty? I love the curliness.

After searching on the Internet, I got a bunch of recipes for a pesto made from garlic scapes. I thought, “Hmm. I got Ohio City Pasta and Garlic Scapes; it would be incredibly prudent to make a garlic scape pesto FOR the pasta!” I chopped up the garlic scapes into bite size pieces, then I also took a bite.

I threw it in my Magic Bullet with a bunch of olive oil and blended it until it was creamy chunky. I then added ground peanuts and parmesan cheese. The peanuts look very much like coffee grounds. Ew. I think I sort of burnt them when I re-toasted them. They were sitting in my cabinet and I thought they might be sort of stale, but I bet it would have been ok if I hadn’t toasted them :(

After mixing up the pesto, it looks incredibly like a guacamole. I assure you, it does not taste like guacamole. It, in fact, tastes strongly of garlic. I loved it, but I should have added more peanuts to tone down the strength of the garlic flavor. Oh well, I’ll do that the next time I make garlic scape pesto.

The garlic scape pesto fraternized with the whole wheat pasta. Then I ate it.

Garlic Scape Pesto
1 bunch garlic scapes
3/4 block of parmesan cheese (or really, however much you want), finely shredded
1/2 cup of peanuts, shelled and ground
a whole bunch of olive oil, however much you need to make sure your scapes blend smoothly
sea salt, to taste

Blend your scapes with the olive oil, then add your parmesan and peanuts. mix well. eat!