Garlic Whistles

I don't know if this is something unique to the Blacksburg Farmers Market or not, but I have never heard of this unsung culinary hero until I started working here. Garlic whistles (also known as garlic scapes) are simply the tops of garlic plants. They look like this:



You simply use them in your cooking as you would regular garlic, except for the part when you eat them. At that point you realize how amazingly wonderful and fresh tasting they are and swear that you will never go back to regular garlic. They have the strength of flavor that garlic has, but the flavor is less pungent and brighter than that of garlic bulbs.

We use them in our spreads and savory breads at UtGU (It's a key ingredient that sets our products apart from others). We use them in our personal cooking too. I find they really lend themselves to Asian cuisine. For example, I like to make stir fry sauce simply with sesame oil, soy sauce, and minced garlic whistles. They also work well thinly sliced in Asian inspired soups.

If you aren't going to use your garlic whistles right away, it's best to run them through a food processor with some olive oil and lemon juice. You can put them in a glass jar and keep them in the fridge for a few months (and by that I mean through the winter).

If you'd like to buy some, you can get them at the Blacksburg Farmers Market. I'm convinced this is the exclusive supplier for garlic whistles for the world. :o) The season is short, so hurry!