Pure Garlic Scapes Salt

Making your own seasoned salts might seem like something only fancy restaurants do, but trust me – it’s one of the easiest ways to step up your cooking game at home. When I first discovered garlic scapes at my local farmers market, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with them. Now, turning them into this simple garlic scapes salt has become one of my favorite ways to preserve their unique flavor all year round.

This recipe is perfect for busy home cooks: it takes just minutes to prepare, lasts for months in your pantry, and adds a fresh, garlicky kick to practically any dish you can think of. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those curly scapes when they’re in season during early summer.

What Kind of Garlic Scapes Should I Use?

Garlic scapes are the curly flower stalks that grow from hardneck garlic plants, and they’re typically available for just a few weeks in late spring or early summer. When picking garlic scapes, look for ones that are bright green, firm, and smooth – avoid any that are yellowing or limp. The younger scapes tend to be more tender and less fibrous than older ones, making them ideal for this flavored salt. If you can’t find fresh scapes at your local farmers market or grocery store, check with nearby garlic farmers who often sell them when they trim the stalks to help their garlic bulbs grow bigger. Just remember to use them within a week of purchasing, as they’ll start to lose their fresh, garlicky punch after that.

Options for Substitutions

Let’s talk about what you can swap in this simple seasoning recipe:

• Garlic scapes: Since garlic scapes have a unique flavor and are seasonal, they’re tricky to substitute perfectly. However, you can try using a mix of fresh garlic cloves and green onions (about 6 cloves garlic plus 4 green onions) to get a similar garlicky-green flavor profile. The texture will be different, but it’ll still make a tasty seasoning salt.
• Coarse sea salt: You can swap the sea salt with kosher salt in equal amounts. Table salt isn’t recommended as it’s too fine and will make the mixture too salty. If you only have table salt, reduce the amount by half.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making garlic scapes salt is using wet or damp scapes, which can cause clumping and potentially lead to mold – make sure your garlic scapes are completely dry before chopping and mixing with salt.

Another common mistake is chopping the scapes too coarsely, which creates an uneven texture in your finished salt – aim for small, uniform pieces about the size of dried herbs to ensure the flavors distribute evenly throughout the salt.

To prevent the salt from becoming too moist during storage, spread the mixture on a baking sheet and let it air dry for 24-48 hours before transferring to an airtight container, stirring occasionally to prevent clumping.

For the most intense garlic flavor, pulse the mixture in a food processor until the scapes are finely ground and well-incorporated with the salt, but be careful not to over-process or you’ll end up with a paste instead of a dry seasoning.

What to Serve With Garlic Scape Salt?

This flavorful seasoning salt is super handy to keep in your kitchen and can jazz up so many different dishes! I love sprinkling it on roasted potatoes or grilled vegetables to give them an extra punch of garlicky goodness. It’s also perfect for seasoning grilled meats – try it on steak, chicken, or even fish right before cooking. When I’m keeping things simple, I’ll sprinkle some on sliced fresh tomatoes, avocado toast, or even popcorn for a quick and tasty snack. Just remember that a little goes a long way since this salt packs quite a flavor punch!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Your homemade garlic scapes salt will stay fresh and flavorful when stored in an airtight glass jar or container. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, just like you would with regular salt. It’ll maintain its taste and aroma for up to 6 months.

Tips: Make sure your container is completely dry before storing the salt mixture – any moisture can cause clumping. If you notice the salt starting to clump over time, give it a quick stir or shake to break up any chunks. A little silica gel packet (like the ones you find in new shoes) can help keep moisture away if you live in a humid climate.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	30-45 minutes
Total Time	40-60 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 0-5
• Protein: 0-1 g
• Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1-2 g

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup coarse sea salt
• 1 cup chopped garlic scapes

Step 1: Prepare the Garlic Scapes

Start by washing and drying your garlic scapes thoroughly.

With a sharp knife, carefully remove the bud from each scape and then roughly chop the stems into smaller pieces for easier processing.

Step 2: Process the Garlic Scapes

Place the chopped garlic scapes into a food processor.

Pulse them until they are finely chopped.

Once the scapes reach a desired texture, add salt and process further until a thick, consistent paste forms.

Step 3: Spread and Bake the Paste

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Spread the garlic scape paste evenly across the parchment paper.

Place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 175°F.

Bake the paste for 30-45 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent clumping and ensure even drying.

Step 4: Cool and Blend into Powder

Once the paste is sufficiently dried, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool completely.

Transfer the cooled mixture into a blender and blend until it turns into a fine powder.

Store your homemade garlic scape salt in an airtight container, ready for use in seasoning your favorite dishes.