Easy Garlic Scape Salad Dressing Recipe

This easy garlic scape salad dressing recipe is a delicious way to enjoy a seasonal ingredient that appears in late spring and early summer. This dressing is sweet and tangy with mild flavors of garlic and onion.

Although garlic scapes may not be as well-known as garlic bulbs, their mild garlic flavor is perfect for homemade dressings, dips, sauces, or any dish that uses garlic. I only discovered scapes a few years ago when they were in a CSA box. Now, I prefer cooking with them over garlic cloves because the flavor profile is more subtle.

What are garlic scapes?

Garlic scapes are green curly stems that grow in late spring and early summer on hardneck garlic. The scapes are thin, green stalks that grow straight out of the garlic bulb, then coil. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, “Curling garlic scape tendrils often include a bulge in the middle. This is the unopened flower of the plant, sometimes called the scape bulbil.”

If the scapes are not harvested, the plant will use its energy to grow the curly stems and flowers, leaving the garlic bulb small and lacking flavor. They are harvested early in the gardening season and are only available for a few weeks each year. They can typically be found at a local farmer’s market, farm stands, or specialty grocery stores.

What do they taste like?

Scapes have a less intense flavor than garlic cloves and taste like a blend of garlic and chives. Because of their mild flavor, they are perfect to use in salad dressings, pesto, dips, or any dish where a subtler garlic flavor is desired. They add plenty of flavor, but they don’t overpower the other ingredients or have a strong, spicy flavor like bulbs do.

Why You’ll Love This Garlic Scape Salad Dressing

One of my favorite ways to enjoy this seasonal delicacy is in this easy garlic scape salad dressing recipe. It comes together in just a few minutes and adds a fresh, garden-inspired flavor to everything from simple green salads to grilled vegetables. If you’ve been wondering what to do with an abundance of garlic scapes, this dressing is the perfect place to start.

There are plenty of reasons to keep this recipe on repeat during the spring and early summer.

• Ready in less than 10 minutes
• Uses simple ingredients
• Fresh, bright flavor
• Great way to use garden garlic scapes
• Delicious on salads, vegetables, and grilled meats
• Naturally gluten-free

The combination of garlic scapes, lemon juice, avocado oil, and a touch of honey creates a dressing that’s balanced, flavorful, and incredibly versatile.

Ingredients

• 4 garlic scapes, coarsely chopped
• 2 green onions, coarsely chopped
• ¼ cup of honey
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup avocado oil

How to Make Garlic Scape Salad Dressing

Step 1: Prepare the Garlic Scapes and Green Onions

Wash the garlic scapes and green onions, and roughly chop them into smaller pieces so they’ll blend easily.

Step 2: Add Ingredients to a Blender

Place all of the ingredients, except the oil, into a blender or food processor.

Step 3: Blend

Blend the ingredients until the dressing is smooth and free of chunks of garlic and green onions. Depending on your blender, this may take 30 to 60 seconds. While the blender is still running, slowly add the avocado oil, and blend until the dressing emulsifies and begins to thicken.

If you’d like a thinner dressing, add a tablespoon of water at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Step 4: Taste and Adjust

Adjust flavors as needed. Add more lemon juice for brightness, extra honey for sweetness, or additional salt and pepper.

Tips for the Best Garlic Scape Dressing

Use Fresh Scapes

Young, tender garlic scapes provide the best flavor and texture.

Let the Flavors Meld

The dressing tastes great immediately, but it’s even better after sitting in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Adjust the Thickness

For a vinaigrette-style dressing, add a splash of water or extra lemon juice. For a thicker dressing, leave it as is.

Ways to Use Garlic Scape Salad Dressing

This dressing is far too good to reserve for salads alone.

• Tossed with mixed greens
• Drizzled over sliced tomatoes and cucumbers
• Spoon over roasted potatoes
• Served with grilled chicken
• Mixed into pasta salad
• Used as a vegetable dip
• Spread on sandwiches and wraps

The fresh garlic flavor complements just about anything coming out of the garden.

How to Store Garlic Scape Dressing

Store the dressing in an airtight container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Because avocado oil can solidify when chilled, let the dressing sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving, then give it a good shake.

Other Ways to Use Garlic Scapes

If your garden is producing an abundance of garlic scapes, you can use them in place of garlic bulbs. Here are a few additional ideas:

• Garlic scape pesto
• Garlic scape compound butter
• Garlic scape hummus
• Stir-fries
• Potato salad
• Homemade herb dips

Once you start cooking with garlic scapes, you’ll find yourself looking forward to their short season every year.

Substituting or Modifying the Ingredients

• Swap shallots for green onions
• Substitute olive oil for avocado oil
• Add more honey for a sweeter dressing.
• Add more lemon juice or red wine vinegar for a more tart dressing.

Enjoy Fresh Summer Vegetables

If you’ve never eaten scapes before, this salad dressing is a wonderful way to try them. Whether you’re growing your own garlic or picking up a bundle from the farmer’s market, give this seasonal ingredient a try. Blend up a batch of this dressing, toss it with garden-fresh salad greens, and enjoy one of the best flavors of the season. If you enjoy fresh summer vegetables, check out my Quick Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas Recipe and my Wilted Lettuce Recipe.

xoxo,
Molly