Scapes in salad

[Nyleve]

I have just come into possession of a bag of scapes. I'd like to use them in a salad - a GREEN salad because I am also drowning in beautiful homegrown lettuce and arugula. So. My question is this: how would you use scapes in a green salad? Chopped up raw seems just wrong. And steamed or sauteed doesn't seem right either. Grilled? Something else? I do not want to make a potato salad or a pasta salad - green, leafy salad that somehow incorporates some fresh scapes. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[angelsmom]

They are wonderful cooked on the grill with OO and salt and pepper.

[Nyleve]

Ha - funny (maybe not) update. I tossed my lovely greens on a platter and made a dressing of good olive oil, maple vinegar, salt, pepper, dijon. Sprinkled the scapes over top and added shaved Parmesan and toasted pumpkin seeds and put it into the fridge.

We talked, we drank, we nibbled on the lawn before dinner. Just so happens that the couple from whose garden I'd picked the scapes were there too. (They'd said to me earlier in the week: just come over anytime and pick them - even if we're not there!). And she mentions, while we were sitting there with our pre-dinner drinks, that they're having a terrible time with their garlic this year. Maggots! And they go right up into the scapes, she said! I said - uh, I picked some. And they're in the salad. I said they looked fine to me. She asked if I had really looked closely at them and no, I hadn't - why would I?

Anyway, I tossed the salad and served it. Screw the maggots! (But I did notice that she had picked all of hers out and left them on the plate.) It was all quite delicious anyway. And besides, if there were maggots, they were cooked - so just a bit more protein.

[Nyleve]

Thanks folks. I think I'm going to make a very fluffy green salad - mixed lettuces and arugula - topped with grilled or roasted scapes (will cut into sensible lengths), some shaved parmesan or asiago and sprinkled with toasted pumpkin seeds. At least that's the plan now. What actually happens is subject to my whims at the moment of salad-making. I'm bringing it to a friend's house tonight - no idea what the main will be - and so it needs to be light. I'll make a dressing with scapes another time.

[ipsedixit]

Blanch before using in a salad.

For non-salad preps, I would stir-fry.

[gordeaux]

Dressing. Seriously. Extra Virgin olive oil, fresh basil, scapes, fresh lemon,salt, pepper, blender. Seriously. Make a bunch for a sandwich dressing. I can't wait to get my hands on some scapes for this dressing.

[magiesmom]

They are nice chopped and raw imo, but they also can be used in a creamy dressing.

[Breadcrumbs]

Well, one of my particular favourite ways to use garlic scapes is in a pesto. So, I'd suggest some grilled pesto marinated chicken breasts atop your salad. Or, tofu for a vegetarian version. You could also grill pesto-coated bread and serve it alongside as crostini or, cubed as croutons. Enjoy this wonderful springtime treat!