Really Good Early Summer Side: Sauteed Kohlrabi and Garlic Scape + Bacon + Mustard

When I’m pushed for time because of all of the summer activities going on, and still want to utilize fresh, local or from the garden produce I resort to this side in the early summer. This side is so great, and special because we can only have it once a year, which means when it’s gone, we have to wait to have this dish in particular until the next year, and let me tell you, it’s worth the wait! 

I know there are a few from the garden crops that only come once a year, and utilizing them might be my favorite thing to do in the kitchen. One of my favorite produce items that only comes once a year are garlic scapes. 

Have you ever heard of garlic scapes? Well, garlic scapes are a produce item from the garden that literally only comes once a year, and in my opinion, it’s one of the best. The garlic scape is the blossom portion you have to cut off of a garlic plant in order to produce a bulb. If you let the blossom portion go into flowering mode you will not get a garlic bulb, or a very drastically smaller bulb. Either way, you get to utilize the scape portion of the plant, AND get a bulb of garlic! Win win! 

Another thing that becomes available in the garden about the same time of the year is kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is part of the brassica family, or better known as the cabbage family. I usually explain the taste and texture of a kohlrabi as crunchy like a radish or jicama with a mild, heart of cabbage taste. 

I love combining kohlrabi and garlic scapes along with some onion and bacon. Then to put this dish over the top, add a touch of brown sugar and mustard. Trust me, it works, and it’s delicious. It turns your dish from bland to “fancy” according to our three year old.

Here’s my recipe for Sauteed Kohlrabi and Garlic Scape + Bacon + Mustard

Ingredients

Garlic Scapes (as many as possible)

1 Onion, diced

4 Kohlrabi

Black Pepper, to taste

1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp Spicy Brown Mustard

Instructions

1. Cut bacon into one inch pieces, start browning in a pan.
2. Wash and peel kohlrabi, dice. Add to the pan.
3. Wash and dice garlic garlic scapes into bite sized pieces. Add to the pan. 
4. Season with black pepper. 
5. Sautee all items in the pan until the kohlrabi and garlic scapes are soft.
6. Add brown sugar and mustard. Allow brown sugar to melt and warm the mustard. Serve warm. 

Trust me, when someone offers you garlic scapes, especially for free, take advantage of this really good early summer side dish.  Like I mentioned, garlic scapes only come once a year, then you have to wait until next year to get some more. Make this one when you’re crunched for time, or you would just like to add a little something different to your typical dinner routine. 

Keep trying new things, I’m cheering you on! This is just the start of growing something good.