Garlic Scapes and Scallion Fritters - Enjoy as an appetizer or snack after your next trip to a farmer's market, where you can find beautiful garlic scapes in abundance.
If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram then you might have heard that I'm mildly obsessed with a local farmer's market. I say mildly, but some others have accused me of being full on addicted. I can't help it, the one we venture to is great. Every Thursday, the kids and I hop in the car, drive 45 minutes to get there and then we spend the entire afternoon there (okay, sometimes well into the evening too).
One of my favorite things about farmer's markets is I can always find ingredients that I can't find in the regular grocery store. I actually started going to this one in hopes of finding zucchini blossoms so I could make some Fried Zucchini Blossoms; my favorite summertime treat. I wasn't able to find any zucchini blossoms there but I did stumble upon garlic scapes.
I know some of you might be familiar with scapes but they are something totally new to me. I've been seeing some recipes lately with garlic scapes on other food blogs so I figured why not give it a go. From what I had read on other sites garlic scapes are part of the garlic plant. Apparently farmers remove them so the actual garlic bulb can grow bigger. In the past they've been discarded but more recently they've become a CSA and farmer's market specialty.
While I was roaming around the farmer's market I also picked up some beautiful scallions. I immediately had scallion pancakes in mind. Although I've eaten many a scallion pancake, I've never actually made a scallion pancake. After I looked up a few recipes I saw that most included making a dough and rolling it out etc. and I really didn't feel like fussing with all of that so I thought something along the line of a fritter would be easy enough.
After the fritters were done I decided that I was madly in love with them but I needed a second opinion. I couldn't decide if they were too scalliony (yes I'm actually making that into a word) or too garlicky so I texted my friend down the street to ask her to taste test. She was up here in a matter of minutes and she gave me her stamp of approval! Next up, our oldest came down stairs and she ate some with a glowing review and lastly, the husband inhaled a few when he returned home too. So, it's not just me, people are loving these fritters!
And so you're not feeling too badly for me, my grandmother called me the next day to tell me she had two giant bags of zucchini flowers for me that she picked fresh that morning. So I'd call this whole experience a win/win!
Some of our other favorite things about the farmer's market are strawberries, chocolate buns, lobster grilled cheese, kohlrabi, peas and huge cookies, bigger than the kids heads!
What are YOUR favorite farmer's market finds?
Garlic Scape and Scallion Fritters
Ingredients
- ½ chopped scapes
- 1 C chopped scallions
- 1 C flour all purpose
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- ¾ C water
- Olive oil
Soy Dipping Sauce
- ¼ C soy sauce
- 2 T rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon sesame oil
- ¼ teaspoon red chili paste
- ¼ teaspoon ginger paste
Instructions
- In a bowl place scapes and scallions. Add flour, salt and egg and mix with a fork. Slowly stir in water, a small bit at a time, just until the consistency of a very thick pancake batter. If batter is too loose, sprinkle in a bit more flour.
- In a skillet, place just enough oil to coat the bottom and heat over medium/high heat. Once the oil is hot, drop fritter batter in by large spoon or ladle. Cook fritters until browned about 3-5 minutes. Flip over and cook other side the same. Remove to paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil. Work in batches being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Add more oil to the pan as needed in between batches.
- Serve with soy dipping sauce if desired.
Soy Dipping Sauce
- Whisk together all ingredients.
- Optional: Add a few sliced scallions.
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
I am on the look out for Garlic Scapes. I can't wait to try them! My local farmers market is tomorrow. I'll be there bright and early. These fritters look and sound so wonderful.
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
I love fritters. You can create so many flavors with them and there texture is great.
Dee says
Love, love, love farmers markets! I'm new to scapes too, but they sound good, and the fritters look wonderful! I'm loving those huge cookies too. 🙂
Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says
What a great way to use those fresh scapes. I stumbled upon them at our farmers market a few years back and buy some every year.
foodyschmoody says
Thanks Cindy. I'm definitely going to be getting them when I return too!
Erlene says
These fritters remind of my a friend's Chinese scallion pancakes. I've never heard of garlic scapes, but I'm sure they must taste delicious in your fritter. It's always a good sign when the family gives their thumbs up approval.
Patty Haxton Anderson says
Love this idea. I'll have to check out a farmer's market as our local store is not carrying these - yet.
Debra Clark says
Love fritters of all kinds and this sounds soooo good, pinned!
Angela says
I love the idea of these!! I really need to find these garlic scapes, they sound amazing!!!
nancy@skinnykitchen.com says
These sound wonderful!
lizzy says
Oh my goodness how creative!! This looks so yummy, I love recipes like this
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets) says
These look wonderful. I have never cooked with garlic scapes before and I am not intrigued 🙂
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
Oh, how I love fritters, these sound wonderful with both the scallions and garlic scapes!
The Food Hunter says
I will need to try these really soon!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
I love garlic scapes and I adore how you've used them. Must make this soon.
Sandra - The Foodie Affair says
I tried to find some garlic scrapes at my farmer's market and didn't have any luck! I really want to give this a try! Keeping my eye out again this week!
Healing Tomato says
I have never garlic scapes be the main part of any meal. This is a very clever idea and I have to try it.