Grilled Garlic Scapes & Summer Squash

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This dish is more about keeping things simple and natural, allowing these two beautiful vegetables to shine at their peak. Grilled garlic scapes and summer squash are infused with smoky flavor, and their natural sugars caramelize, turning them into a crave worthy side dish.

What are garlic scapes?

Twisty, twirly garlic scapes are available for a very short time because they’re one of the stages that garlic goes through before it ends up as papery, potent cloves. They’re absolutely delicious, and you should grab a bundle at the farmers market when you see them!

The bulb and roots grow underground while a stem, leaves and scapes soak up the sunshine above.

They taste like garlicky scallions (YUM) – mild and perfect for grilling or whirling into a pesto.

And baby summer squash and zucchini – they’re such a treat! The ones I used here were about 5 to 6 inches in length, which makes them perfect for cutting into quarters like dill pickle spears. I even like eating them raw because they’re so fresh and crunchy, as close to a cucumber as you’ll get.

At this young stage, they’ve got fewer seeds and less water content than when they’re full grown, which means you can get a nice crispy char from the grill. I find that people tend to overcook vegetables on the grill, so watch them and test so they’re just tender and still retain their shape.

Dressed simply with olive oil, sea salt & pepper, this easy summer splendor is worth making!

More Grilling Recipes:

• How to Grill Lettuce + Simple Italian Grilled Romaine Salad
• Grilled Veggie Kabobs with Tofu
• No-Fuss Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill

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11 Best Recipes for Garlic Scapes + Grilled Garlic Scapes!

Garlic scapes taste like garlicky scallions and they're absolutely delicious when tossed in olive oil and grilled with zucchini and summer squash. This simple vegetarian side dish is a great addition to any weeknight meal!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time :10 minutes minutes

Cook Time :15 minutes minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Author: Amanda Paa

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds of zucchini & summer squash, ideally 5-6 inches in length and skinny
• 2 small bunches of garlic scapes
• 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• sea salt & pepper
• fresh lemon juice
• fresh parmesan

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Instructions 

• Slice off the tops and bottoms of the zucchini and slice them in half lengthwise, then cut them in half lengthwise again. They should look like pickle spears. Place them all in a large bowl and coat with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few cracks of pepper.
• Put the zucchini & squash in a grill basket.
• Wash and dry the scapes. Break off the harder, woody ends that don’t have the bulb. Using your hands, coat garlic scapes in olive oil and 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few cracks of black pepper.
• Prepare your grill to medium high to heat. Toss scapes directly on the grill and put the grill basket with zucchini on next to them. Turn both sets of vegetables a few times, and remove them when they’re soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, a lighter shade of green and golden brown in parts. You want to see a nice char, this means flavor!
• Remove from grill and finish with a big squeeze of fresh lemon over all the vegetables, and lightly toss. Finish with freshly grated parmesan if desired. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.