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Creamy Grilled Garlic Scape Pesto Pasta Recipe with Smoky Charred Flavor

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A creamy, smoky grilled garlic scape pesto pasta that combines the fresh flavor of garlic scapes with ricotta and toasted pine nuts for a luscious, smoky sauce perfect for summer dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10–12 fresh garlic scapes, trimmed and chopped
  • 12 oz (340 g) pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or farfalle)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup (35 g) toasted pine nuts
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 small lemon
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Rinse and pat dry garlic scapes. Trim tough ends and cut into 3-4 inch pieces. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400°F / 200°C).
  2. Toss garlic scapes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt. Grill, turning every 2 minutes until tender with char marks, about 6-8 minutes.
  3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on type. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
  4. Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.
  5. In a food processor, combine grilled garlic scapes, ricotta, toasted pine nuts, olive oil, lemon juice, and Parmesan. Pulse until smooth and creamy. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen if needed.
  6. Return drained pasta to pot or large bowl. Add pesto sauce and toss to coat evenly.
  7. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. Garnish with whole grilled garlic scapes or pine nuts if desired.

Notes

Salt pasta water well for best flavor. Grill garlic scapes carefully to avoid burning and to develop smoky flavor. Add reserved pasta water gradually to adjust pesto consistency. For dairy-free, substitute ricotta with cashew cheese or silken tofu and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Pine nuts can be swapped with walnuts or seeds for allergies.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic scape pesto, grilled garlic scapes, creamy pesto pasta, summer pasta recipe, smoky pesto, ricotta pasta, pine nuts, easy pasta recipe

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/creamy-grilled-garlic-scape-pesto-pasta-recipe-with-smoky-charred-flavor/