Uses for Garlic Plant Curls

Pesto

• Garlic is a key component of pesto, but you can use garlic scapes instead of cloves to make a homemade pesto. While the green color of pesto is attributed to the fresh basil leaves used in the recipe, the green garlic scapes will also add to the pesto's color. Follow any pesto recipe and simply substitute scapes for garlic cloves. Because of the milder taste of the scapes, you may wish to add more scapes after tasting the pesto, especially if you enjoy an intense garlic flavor.

Salads

• While eating a raw garlic clove may be too potent for your taste buds, eating a raw garlic scape isn't as intense. As such, raw garlic scapes are tasty in garden salads, and their crisp texture gives the salad a tasty crunch. Dice the garlic scapes into 1-inch lengths, then toss them with the rest of the salad ingredients once you've added a dressing. For visual appeal, leave one or two full garlic scapes on top of the salad when serving as a garnish.

Pasta Sauces

• Whether you're making a red spaghetti sauce or a creamy Alfredo sauce, substituting garlic scapes for garlic cloves gives the sauce more visual appeal. While garlic is often minced or crushed into sauces, and thus rendered nearly invisible once cooked, scapes will maintain their green color even after cooking. Because your guests may not be familiar with this uncommon vegetable, they'll be pleasantly surprised when they bite into a scape in the paste sauce you've served.

Sauteed

• Garlic has numerous health benefits, but unless you enjoy intense flavors, you may not eat garlic cloves on their own. To enjoy the health rewards of garlic, without the burn, wash a handful of scapes and cut them into 2-inch lengths. Add butter or olive oil to a hot saute pan, and pan fry the scapes for five to 10 minutes over medium heat. Serve them as a side dish or stir them into mashed potatoes.