Green garlic is harvested while still immature, before the bulb has a chance to fully develop the cloves we know so well. It looks a lot like a scallion, with a mild garlic flavor that’s bright and fresh tasting. You can use both the white and green tender green parts of the stalk, trimming away any yellowing or woody parts near the top.
In this recipe, minced raw green garlic is mixed with butter, Parmesan and chives, then used to top toast. It’s pungent, herbal and sweet with a bite from the chile flakes. Serve these plain, or top with any number of embellishments – sliced avocado, sliced tomatoes, dollops of ricotta cheese, fillets of anchovies or sardines. They make an excellent nibble with drinks, or serve a large portion with a salad for a light lunch. If you’re not using it immediately, the green garlic butter will freeze well for up to 3 months. And the piquant butter can also be used to cook eggs, or tossed with asparagus, pasta or rice.
Ingredients
- Slices of crusty bread
- ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 ½ tablespoons chopped young green garlic stalks, white and green parts
- 1 tablespoon minced chives
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
- Large pinch red chile flakes
- 1 regular (not green) garlic clove, halved
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)
144 calories; 13 grams fat; 8 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 35 milligrams cholesterol; 190 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
8 servings
Preparation
- Heat the broiler. Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and broil them, flipping them halfway through cooking time, until golden on both sides. Keep warm.
- In a bowl, stir together the butter, cheese, green garlic, chives, pepper, salt and chile.
- Rub the toast with the cut side of the regular garlic clove, then spread with the green garlic butter. Broil toast again for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, until the tops lightly brown and the butter melts. Serve hot or warm.
15 minutes
Dining and Cooking