Garlic Scape Butter

A Hobbit’s Pantry

Through the long, hot summer months, the hobbits of the Shire are busy tending their gardens, harvesting their crops, and preserving fresh seasonal produce in their well-stocked pantries. In a hobbit’s pantry you will find summer’s bounty captured in rows of pretty jars filled with berry preserves and fruit jams, bundles of dried herbs, crocks of tangy pickles and savoury chutneys. A hobbit’s pantry embodies their deep love of growing things and the wisdom of preserving the abundant crops of summer for the leaner days ahead.

More Hobbit Pantry recipes

• Spiced Rhubarb Jam
• Raspberry Lavender Jelly
• Wild Mushroom Seasoning Salt
• Pickled Mustard Seeds
• Spiced Apple Butter

An Herbed Compound Butter

As the winter stores begin to run out and the first plantings are not yet ready, we eagerly look to the few fresh offerings of late spring. Garlic scapes are a late spring delicacy, plucked from the bulb as they begin to flower. Their mild garlic flavour adds a punch of fresh flavour to any savoury dish and is particularly delicious blended into creamy butter. This flavourful compound butter can be easily stored in the fridge for up to a month or for up to six months in the freezer to enjoy well into the dark days of winter.

Ways to use Garlic Scape Butter

• Dinner rolls or bread – melted garlic scape butter is delicious brushed over warm dinner rolls straight from the oven or spread on slices of fresh bread.
• Meat and fish – Garlic scape butter can be rubbed onto chicken or fish before baking or topped over grilled steak.
• Potatoes – Top your baked potatoes with a pat of garlic scape butter or swirl it into creamy mashed.
• Vegetables – Garlic scape butter is delightful brushed over fresh corn on the cob or lightly tossed with steamed vegetables such as carrots, green beans, or peas.

Ingredients

Garlic scapes: Garlic scapes are curly flowering stems that grow from the garlic bulb in late spring. They are typically removed to focus the plants’ energy to the garlic bulb. They have a much milder garlic flavour than the bulbs.

Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter in this recipe. If using salted butter, reduce the added kosher salt by about half. Allow the butter to come up to room temperature before blending.

How to Make Garlic Scape Butter

Wash and trim the garlic scapes. Cut the scapes into small pieces and add to a food processor. Blend the garlic scapes in the food processor until they are finely chopped.

Cut the butter into pieces. Add about a third of the butter to the food processor along with the kosher salt. Blend until the butter is fully blended into the garlic scapes. Scrape down the sides and add another third of butter. Blend again, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the remaining butter and blend until smooth.

To store the butter, you can either transfer it to a jar or shape it into a cylinder. To shape the butter into a cylinder, place a large piece of cling film on the counter. Scoop the butter onto the cling film and roll up to form a log. Twist the ends to form an even cylinder. The butter can be refrigerated for up to a month or frozen for up to 6 months. Enjoy!