Dishing Up the Dirt

Zucchini Noodles with Garlic Scape Pesto

Christmas came early and Tumbleweed Farm is exploding with garlic scapes! We’ve been harvesting this seasonal gem for a few weeks now and I was waiting until our zucchini came in to share this lovely and simple “pasta” with you all.

We’ve been blessed with amazing weather recently and our spring crops are overlapping with summer produce. Peas-zucchini-mint- garlic scapes OH MY! The list is getting long and I feel like a kid in a candy store whenever we harvest for dinner.

This pasta is so light and fresh I could honestly eat it every single day. If you haven’t tried garlic scapes yet you are in for a real treat. Garlic scapes have a milder flavor than raw garlic but still pack a little punch. They are harvested off of hard-neck garlic varieties so energy can focus on growing larger bulbs. Garlic scapes are a specialty item at the farmers markets this time of the year and you should definitely get your hands on some before their short season is over.

Recently, the weather has been amazing (we even got some some much needed rain) and we’ve been tilling up more land since we have maxed out our upper fields and north field. We finally broke down and called in for reinforcements.

Our buddy Sam arrived ready and anxious to get his hands dirty. Have I mentioned before how awesome our local friends are? We are so lucky. He hopped right onto our tractor and tilled up a south section of the property so we can continue to plant the late season crops.

It’s amazing how much more work we can get done with just one more person! Honestly, it’s a difference between night and day. We almost caught up with our list of chores for the weekend and it feels amazing.

We celebrated all of our progress with good food and a few cold beers.

This recipe is simple and farm fresh. However, it requires a julienne peeler, spiral cutter, or mandoline to slice the zucchini into thin noodles. I ordered my spirilzer last year for $30 and have used it SO much. You can make noodles out of any vegetable and I highly recommend the small investment. However, If vegetable noodles are’t your thing feel free to sub with traditional pasta.

We are getting some much needed rest tonight since the alarm clock goes off at 4:45am tomorrow. Thank god for food like this to get us through. Grab a fork and enjoy!

Garlic Scape Pest & Zucchini Noodles with Peas & Mint

Prep Time: 20 minutes    Cook Time: 0 minutes    Serves: 4

For the Pesto:
  • 10 garlic scapes, diced
  • 1/3 cup raw walnuts
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt + Pepper
For the Zucchini Noodles:
  • 4 medium-small zucchini, ends trimmed
  • 2 cups fresh english peas, blanched (can sub frozen peas too!)
  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Fine sea salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. Prepare the pesto by adding all of the ingredients except the oil to a food processor. With the motor running slowly add the olive oil.  Process until smooth. Taste test and adjust seasonings if necessary. If the pesto is too thick add a little more oil or a few tablespoons of water. Set aside.
  2. If you're using fresh peas blanch them in boiling water until bright green and tender. If your using frozen peas thaw and blanch if necessary.
  3. Use a julienne peeler, spirilizer, or mandoline to slice the zucchini into noodles. Place zucchini noodles in a large bowl. Toss with pesto, peas, mint, pine nuts, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Drizzle with a tablespoon more of olive oil and serve.

Notes

*If you cannot find garlic scapes use your favorite pesto recipe instead *Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary. *Always taste test as you go.


Leave a Reply

19 thoughts on “Zucchini Noodles with Garlic Scape Pesto

  1. I’ve got to get my hands on some garlic scapes! The farm stand just set up shop in my neighborhood, so I’ll be keeping my eyes out for these. Props to you guys for starting your Monday so early. You definitely need some food like this to fuel you through the day!

    1. Andrea says:

      Lady! head to your local farmers market and I think you will be all set with garlic scapes! They really are the best!

  2. Alissa says:

    I’ve got a bunch of garlic scrapes popping up in the garden, but it never even occurred to me to cook with them. I guess I thought I’d just harvest the bulbs and toss the scrapes. I also planted mint, which is something I never know what to use for. This recipe will definitely come in handy:)

    1. Andrea says:

      Yay!!! Get to work in the kitchen with these gems!!

  3. I still have yet to try garlic scapes but this recipe will be the one to send me hunting for them! It’s beautiful and sounds delicious!

    I’m glad to hear you brought in reinforcements for the day. I’m sure it prevented a few break downs!

  4. Those garlic scapes looks so crazy and awesome! I’ve never seen them before, I will have to keep my eye out next time I go to the farmers market! A spiralizer is on my wishlist and every time I see a recipe that needs one, I think that I need to order is asap! Hopefully one will be in my life soon 🙂

    1. Andrea says:

      Keep your eyes peeled! Garlic scapes are amazing and such a treat in the late spring and early summer!

  5. Lauren C says:

    Wow, what a beautiful dish! I’ve never heard of garlic scapes but I will head out to my farmers’ market this weekend on the hunt for them. This looks like the perfect light & refreshing summer meal 🙂

    1. Andrea says:

      You should definitely be able to find them at the farmers market! Enjoy!

  6. Allison says:

    My neighbours left for a two month vacation and gave me free range of their garden and their garlic has garlic scapes! I had no idea what these were until your post -I thought they had just overgrown? hehe. I love the idea of making a pesto out of them! Great idea! And sprializers are the best. I just can’t get enough of mine! Love this recipe. All of the photos are fantastic! Love seeing the behind the scenes shots of your farming 🙂

    1. Andrea says:

      You have the ideal neighbors!!! Awesome!

  7. Kate says:

    Look at all those gorgeous green noodles! I’ve never tried garlic scapes but I LOVE garlic, so I have clearly been missing out. So glad your crops are growing in such abundance!

    1. Andrea says:

      Thank you lady 🙂

  8. Monet says:

    Garlic scapes are beautiful by themselves but they look just stunning in this bowl of pasta! What a gorgeous bowl of summer goodness. Thank you for sharing!

  9. What a gorgeous dish!! Peas and mint and pesto!? Oh my!

  10. Trish says:

    Is there a place to stay nearby? I would love to come visit and work on the farm for a few days!

  11. Just pinned this, I love it! You are too cute, love your blog!

  12. francesca says:

    We *just* got in our spiralizer and I am over the moon. more of this to come!

  13. Carolyn says:

    I made this for dinner last night with scapes, peas and mint all from our garden and it was amazing!!! We used blanched sugar snap peas because we didn’t grow English peas, and they were delicious! The pesto is so flavorful and mine and my husbands new obsession….thank you lady!

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