Gnocchi with Garlic Scape Pesto

A twist on classic basil pesto, this version uses garlic scapes which impart a subtle and balanced garlic flavor throughout the dish. Garlic scapes are the unopened flower stalks that grow from the garlic bulb. Scapes are harvested in late spring and early summer, have a vibrant green color, a crispy texture and a mild garlic taste. The pesto can be quickly made using a food processor. And if you have a few extra minutes, use a mortar & pestle for a richer aromatic flavor and more emulsified texture.

Ingredients

For the Pesto

8 to 10 fresh garlic scapes, rinsed and ends trimmed off
1.5 cups grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Cheese
1/2 cup pine nuts (pignoli)
5-8 fresh basil leaves
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
A couple pinches of kosher salt

For the Gnocchi

1 pound fresh gnocchi (if using frozen, boil gnocchi according to the package instructions, strain and set aside)
- Nutrition tip: This dish can be made gluten free with Cauliflower gnocchi in place of potato gnocchi which often contains wheat flour
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil (or enough to coat the bottom of a 10 inch skillet)

Preparation

Prepare the garlic scapes

Roughly chop the trimmed scapes.
Add to food processor with a pinch of salt and pulse to break the scapes down into a large crumbly consistency.
Transfer to a mortar to finish making the pesto (or make the entire pesto in the food processor. See Time-saving tip under Make the Pesto).
Pro-tip: A molcajete works perfectly for pesto in place of the mortar.

Make the Pesto Sauce

Add ~1/3 cup olive oil to the garlic scapes in the mortar and, using a pestle, ground the scapes into a paste.
Add the pine nuts and grind into the paste
Add the cheeses 1/2 cup at a time, another 1/3 cup olive oil and work into the paste.
Add basil, pinch of salt and ground until well combined.
Add the remaining olive oil and work into the pesto until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Time-saving tip: Skip the mortar & pestle and make the pesto in the food processor. Simply add all Pesto ingredients except the olive oil and pulse until a paste is formed. Then, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until smooth and creamy.

Cook the Gnocchi

Heat a 10 inch skillet and add 2tsp olive oil
Then add the fresh or pre-boiled gnocchi (if starting from frozen). Allow each gnocchi to have contact with the hot oil
Cook gnocchi, untouched, for 3 minutes then rotate and brown the second side, another 3 minutes
Add more olive oil if the pan starts to dry out.
Add the pesto and stir until the gnocchi are well coated.
Remove from heat and serve.

Serving Suggestions

Top with a sprinkle of Parmegiano Reggiano or Pecorino, freshly cracked black pepper and a few flakes of sea salt. This dish is wonderful on it's own alongside a fresh Arugula salad. The garlic and parmesan flavors of this dish will pair well with New York Strip steak or Grilled Skirt Steak.

Nutrition Corner

Garlic scapes are nutritious addition to a healthy balanced diet. They provide a good source of fiber to support digestion, vitamin C to help boost immunity and vitamin K1 to support blood clotting.

Similar to other members of the allium family, garlic scapes contain allicin, a bioactive compound formed when the plant tissues are broken down, as when chopping or crushing. Allicin has been widely studied for its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Allicin has also been shown to regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels* and may have anti-cancer properties**.

*Ravindra J, Ug Y, Pandyanda Nanjappa D, Kalladka K, Dhakal R, Chakraborty A, Chakraborty G. Allicin extracted from Allium sativum shows potent anti-cancer and antioxidant properties in zebrafish. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Dec 31;169:115854. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115854. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37951024/

**Upadhyay S, Ahmad R, Kumar R, Ghildiyal S, Singh A, Ahmad K, Husain I, Barkat MA, Hassan MZ, Asiri YI, Siddiqui S. Exploring the ROS-mediated anti-cancer potential in human triple-negative breast cancer by garlic bulb extract: A source of therapeutically active compounds. J Tradit Complement Med. 2024 Apr 11;14(6):644-655. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2024.04.003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39850602/

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