Description
Homemade garlic scape pesto brings Mediterranean charm to summer kitchens with its zesty green goodness. Blended pine nuts, fresh scapes, olive oil, and parmesan create a silky sauce perfect for pasta, bread, or grilled vegetables you’ll want to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 garlic scapes
- 1 packed cup baby spinach (1 ½ ounces)
- ¼ cup raw or roasted, salted pistachios (shelled)
Cheese and Seasoning:
- ½ ounce Parmesan cheese (approximately ¼ cup grated)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 medium lemon
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Trim the woody ends of the garlic scapes and roughly chop them into 1-inch (2.5 centimeter) segments.
- Add the chopped garlic scapes, raw pistachios, fresh spinach leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and kosher salt into a food processor container.
- Pulse the ingredients several times to create an initial coarse mixture, scraping down the sides of the processor bowl to ensure even blending.
- With the food processor running continuously, slowly drizzle extra virgin olive oil in a steady stream to help emulsify and create a smooth, vibrant green pesto consistency.
- Stop the processor and taste the pesto, adjusting seasoning with additional salt, lemon juice, or olive oil as needed to balance the flavors.
- Transfer the garlic scape pesto to a clean glass jar or storage container, smoothing the top with a spatula to remove any air pockets.
- Serve immediately as a versatile sauce over pasta, spread on crusty bread, dollop onto roasted vegetables, or store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days with a thin layer of olive oil covering the surface to prevent oxidation.
Notes
- Freshly harvested garlic scapes deliver the best flavor and brightest green color to this vibrant pesto.
- Swap traditional basil with tender spinach leaves for a milder, more versatile green base.
- Roasting pistachios briefly before blending intensifies their nutty essence and adds depth to the sauce.
- Homemade pesto keeps well in sealed containers for up to one week when refrigerated with a thin olive oil layer on top.
- Versatile condiment pairs perfectly with grilled meats, pasta, sandwiches, and roasted vegetables for quick meal transformations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 8mg