(Updated post from June 29th, 2016) What do we eat when we are exhausted and do not feel like cooking? Pesto. But not just any old pesto. It’s summer time. Which means trying new things. Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta on the menu tonight!
Summer = Farmers Market Time. The Farmers Market is to me what a brewery is to the hubs. I love the farmers market, nay I adore the farmers market. I could live there. Give me a bed and maybe a little portable kitchen and I’d be set.
I think what I love about the farmers market the most is the sense of community. Walking around with other food loving folks, chatting up the farmers and vendors, tasting things, listening to the live music… it is probably one of my favorite places to go to. Oh and let me add that my local favorite one is the St. Paul Farmers Market.
A perfect farmers market day for me would go a little something like this: Wake up early to our adorable babbling Poppy. After feeding my tot her morning oats or pancakes, off to the market we go. Armed with our reusable bags, we meander over to the market always starting with the first row of vendors closest to the baseball field. Why, I don’t know. It is just tradition I guess. Also I am a secretly convinced this is the row with the best veggies.
We check out all of the produce in the first aisle, saying hi to the friendly vendors while Poppy runs around saying hi to all the vendors. I start making my mental list of what veggies are available and which ones look the best. My general rules for market days are:
- Buy produce and use them as the inspiration for each weeknight meal
- Try at least 1 new veggie.
- Do not buy more veggies than we can eat in 1 week
After the first aisle, we enter bagel territory. Some of the best bagel sandwiches in town! Loaded with fresh veggies, cheese, egg and bacon, these monster bagels are the perfect breakfast. The hubs and I share a bagel and coffee while enjoying the folky band playing this week, watching Liv hop and dance around.
Then off to aisle #2. This is a quick one since it has a lot of non-produce stands. The third and final aisle is a fun one because it has 1-2 new items. Is it strawberries this week, or corn on the cobb or brussel sprouts or raspberries?
At this point I have not bought a thing… aside from the bagel of course. Now we circle back around and I buy from the vendors that I spotted with the best produce. Finally off we go back to the car with our bags filled with goodies, we are only slightly sweaty and ready to start our Sunday.
After my last farmers market trip last weekend, I ended up with some beautiful Garlic Scape. These are thin, curly, green stalks that grow from the bulbs of garlic plants. Taste-wise they are mild and sweet, like chives or scallions, but with that unmistakable hint of garlic.
And guess what one of the best uses is for this curly twirly green veggie?! Can you guess?! It is good on pasta…. PESTO PESTO PESTO!
Garlic Scape Pesto. Think delicious pesto but with a sweet subtle garlic edge. Perfect on pizza, bread, as a dip or on pasta. Basically the absolute perfect make ahead meal for a busy summer night.
Seriously easy and delicious. I mean prep time is just 5 minutes for the pesto and the pasta another 7-9 minutes. 16 minute dinner you guys! 16 minutes! I mean it!
Plus pesto is the type of sauce or spread that feels fancy but is a cinch to make yourself. Bright, fresh, herby, garlicy and tasty. Garlic Scape Pesto is a fun fresh twist on a classic that has quickly become one of our farmer market favorites.
Yields 1 cup of pesto; pasta dinner serves 6
Ingredients
- 10 garlic scapes, washed and roughly chopped
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
- 1/3 cup roasted cashews, slivered almonds or walnuts (you can lightly toast them too)
- About 1/2 cup olive oil
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 lbs thin spaghetti or linguine depending on your preference
- Extra Parmesan cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- For the pesto, puree the garlic scapes, nuts, Parmesan in a food processor until very finely chopped. With the motor running, slowly pour the oil through the opening. Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste.
- For Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta, bring a large pot of salted water water to a booil. Cook 1lbs of thin spaghetti until al dente (according to package instructions).
- Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta-cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Whisk together 2/3 cup of the pesto and the reserved pasta water and toss with the pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add more pesto if desired. Serve with a little extra parmesan and enjoy the fresh taste of summer.
Notes
To store pesto, pour a little olive oil over the surface, cover, and refrigerate for up to a week. Pesto can also be frozen for several months.
Originally posted 2017-06-15 06:00:51.
Bethany says
By Val says
Bethany says
By Val says