Oven-Roasted Garlic Spears (Garlic Scapes)

This simple, flavorful Oven-Roasted Garlic Spears recipe takes less than 10 minutes to throw together and makes a fresh, tasty side dish for any spring or summer meal. 

Garlic scapes are the tender stalks and flower top of hardneck garlic plants; the kind of garlic that typically grows in North America. Garlic scapes (also known as garlic spears) are available for a few fleeting weeks in the spring and early summer at your grocery or local farmers market. They make a beautiful presentation and a tasty addition to your table. 

Jump to:

• What's the Scoop on Garlic Scapes?
• What Goes into this Recipe
• How to Make this Garlic Scapes Recipe
• Storage
• Top Tip: How to Choose Garlic Spears
• FAQ
• More Garden Fresh Recipes
• Recipes for Garlic Lovers
• Oven-Roasted Garlic Spears

What's the Scoop on Garlic Scapes?

Garlic spears can be eaten raw or cooked. When raw, they carry a pretty hot punch, and can be used to spice up things like baked potatoes or salads.

With a mild garlic flavor that mellows the longer they are cooked, garlic spears can be roasted, sautéed, steamed, chopped into pastas or casseroles, or pureed into soup, sauce, pesto, or hummus.

We think this quick, easy oven-roasted garlic scapes recipe is one of the best ways to enjoy fresh garlic spears. The results are simply delicious!

What Goes into this Recipe

• Garlic Scapes (i.e., garlic spears): You can find garlic spears at your local food co-op, Whole Foods, or farmers' market. Some chain grocery stores also carry them, but (in our experience) stock is often limited and intermittent.
• Olive Oil: You can use any light-flavored olive oil or other neutral cooking oil. (We like to use this amazing Meyer lemon olive oil, which enhanced the flavors even more.)
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice. (Bottled lemon juice has an astringent quality that overpowers the scapes more subtle flavors.)

How to Make this Garlic Scapes Recipe

Cut off the ends of the garlic scapes.

Toss the pared spears in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Lay out in a single layer on a heavy baking sheet.

Roast in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 30-35 minutes, until the tips are lightly browned and the stalk is tender. Gently toss garlic scapes midway through roasting time if desired.

Sprinkle with lemon juice before serving.

Storage

Treat fresh garlic scapes as you would fresh asparagus stalks:

• 1-3 Days: Cut the ends and stand them up in a glass of water on the counter or in the fridge.
• Up to 2 Weeks: Refrigerate in a breathable vegetable bag in the refrigerator.
• Up to 3 Months: Blanche in boiling water for 30-45 seconds. Vacuum seal or place in a large, resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Top Tip: How to Choose Garlic Spears

Choosing garlic spears at the market is a lot like choosing asparagus, too. Look for spears that are firm, and bright green in color. Like asparagus, the more delicate the stalk, the more tender.

Avoid yellow or papery flower bulbs, hard or woody stalks, and bruising or other damage.

FAQ

More Garden Fresh Recipes

Recipes for Garlic Lovers

If you love garlic, oven-roasted garlic is easy to make and the perfect way to add deep, rich, subtle garlicky flavor to everything from casseroles to compound butter.

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