Savory Garlic Scape Stir-Fry with Soy Sauce
Savory Garlic Scape Stir-Fry with Soy Sauce
The Best Garlic Scape Stir-Fry: Sweet, Salty, and Full of Flavor
A delightful banchan (side dish) with a chewy yet tender texture, boasting a perfectly balanced sweet and salty taste. This recipe removes any harshness from the garlic scapes, enhancing their natural umami for a dish the whole family will love.
Ingredients- 1 bunch garlic scapes (approx. 400g)
- 60ml soy sauce (approx. 4 Tbsp)
- 4 Tbsp rice syrup (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or white sugar)
- 1 Tbsp brown rice oil (or cooking oil)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp cooking wine (mirin)
- 1/2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by preparing your garlic scapes. Since they can sometimes have soil or debris between the strands, gently spread them apart and rinse thoroughly under running water. Ensuring they are completely dry will help prevent splattering when stir-frying.
Step 2
Once washed and dried, cut the garlic scapes into manageable pieces, about 5-6 cm in length. This size is ideal for stir-frying and eating, ensuring a pleasant texture.
Step 3
As you prepare the garlic scapes, you’ll notice that some have a small, round flower-like bud at the tip.
Step 4
This bud doesn’t contribute much to the flavor and can be a bit tough, so it’s best to trim it off. After trimming, you should have around 400g of prepared garlic scapes. Now, let’s get ready to cook this delicious dish!
Step 5
Heat a lightly oiled pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of brown rice oil (or your preferred cooking oil) and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. This step helps to mellow the raw garlic’s pungency and infuse the oil with its aroma. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 6
Once the garlic is fragrant, add the prepared garlic scapes to the pan. Stir-fry over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. This quick stir-fry helps to further reduce any remaining sharpness in the scapes and coats them lightly with oil, preparing them for the sauce.
Step 7
After 2 minutes, it’s crucial to add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine (like mirin). The cooking wine is key to eliminating any remaining pungent taste and preventing any unwanted ‘garlicky’ odors, ensuring a cleaner flavor profile. Continue to stir-fry for another 2 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.
Step 8
Now, add the soy sauce (60ml), rice syrup (4 Tbsp), and brown sugar (1 Tbsp). Stir well to coat the garlic scapes with the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer and thicken, coating the scapes. This will take approximately 8-10 minutes, depending on your stove’s heat.
Step 9
Here’s a key tip for success: Keep stirring the mixture consistently as the sauce thickens. If you leave it unattended, it can easily scorch at the bottom of the pan. Continuous stirring not only prevents burning but also ensures the sauce evenly coats and penetrates the garlic scapes for maximum flavor.
Step 10
As the sauce thickens and coats the garlic scapes beautifully, add 1/2 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds. Give it a final quick stir to combine. This is the perfect time to taste the dish! Adjust the soy sauce or sugar to your preference to achieve your ideal sweet and savory balance.
Step 11
Once your delicious garlic scape stir-fry is ready, let it cool slightly. Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It can be enjoyed as a flavorful side dish for up to a week. Enjoy with a warm bowl of rice!
