I was at the farmer’s market here in Québec city on Sunday with the girls, and I stopped at the garlic farm stand for a huge head of fresh garlic. I love garlic. I use it in almost everything, roasted or raw. I probably reek of it half of the time, but I don’t care. It makes EVERYTHING better. Soups, salads, fried rice, pestos, burgers, spinach, brussel sprouts, coucous and quinoa.. you name it. So I was surprised when I found this bag by the register as I was going to pay for my garlic, full of twisted, green, stalks that looked almost like a curly scallion, but firmer. I asked the farmer what they were, and she told me they were ‘fleurs de l’ail‘. Garlic flowers, or as we call them more commonly in english, Garlic scapes. Essentially, the stalk or flower that grows out from the bulb of the garlic.

 I asked her what they were used for, and she told me pretty much anything that you might use garlic for. Some people like it because it’s a bit lighter, not quite as pungent, and the bright green color will brighten up any dish! I’ve been using them in my roasted potatoes, a risotto, a stock I made after roasting a chicken last week(posts on all of these things coming soon!). It’s essentially an easy additive to anything.

I looked up some info on these beauties on the website for The Garlic Farm, in Connecticut, not far from where I grew up. They give some awesome info and recipes on the garlic flower or scape. This one for a Garlic Scape Pesto sounds to die for! I think I am going to have to try it!

Do any of you have any good recipes using Garlic Flowers? If so, please share them with us!

xo

la bonne maman