Savory Stir-Fried Garlic Scapes
Super Easy Garlic Scape Muchim (Seasoned Scapes)
While organizing the refrigerator, I found two bunches of garlic scapes that had been sitting around. I honestly don’t remember when I bought them, but they were surprisingly still quite firm and fresh. It’s common to find excess ingredients after a fridge clean-out, and each time an unfamiliar item appears, I can’t help but sigh. ‘It was better when I didn’t remember,’ I think, and the fatigue level exponentially increases with every ingredient found. ‘It’s okay, it’s okay… I like garlic scapes…’ I console myself. So, I decided to turn them into a delicious side dish!
Main Ingredients- 2 bunches of garlic scapes (approx. 200-250g)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the garlic scapes. Trim off the tough, thicker ends of the garlic scapes and wash them thoroughly under running water. Make sure to rinse off any dirt or debris.
Step 2
Fill a pot with plenty of water and add a pinch of salt. The salt helps to keep the garlic scapes vibrant green and adds a subtle seasoning.
Step 3
Once the water is boiling, add the prepared garlic scapes and blanch them for just 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook them, as they will become mushy and lose their crisp texture!
Step 4
Immediately after blanching, drain the garlic scapes and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool them down. Then, drain them thoroughly in a colander. Any remaining water can dilute the seasoning and make the dish taste bland.
Step 5
Now, let’s make the delicious seasoning. Heat the grapeseed oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the gochujang, gochugaru, and corn syrup. Stir and cook the mixture over low heat until fragrant. Stirring constantly to prevent burning will develop a richer flavor.
Step 6
Once the seasoning is well cooked, turn off the heat. Add the thoroughly drained garlic scapes to the pan and gently toss them to coat evenly with the seasoning. It’s better to mix them gently rather than vigorously to maintain their texture.
Step 7
Finally, drizzle in the sesame oil. The nutty aroma of the sesame oil will enhance the overall flavor of the garlic scapes.
Step 8
Sprinkle in the toasted sesame seeds. They add a nutty flavor and make the dish look more appealing.
Step 9
Give it one last gentle toss to combine the sesame oil and seeds. Your delicious and crunchy garlic scape muchim is ready! It’s great to enjoy immediately or refrigerate and serve as a side dish later.
