Grilled Garlic Scape Potato Salad Recipe

This Grilled Garlic Scape Potato Salad recipe transforms a classic potato salad into a vibrant summer side dish by combining smoky grilled garlic scapes, tender red potatoes, and a creamy herb dressing. Featured on Fresh Market Dinners, this easy recipe highlights fresh seasonal ingredients and simple grilling techniques to create a flavorful potato salad that’s perfect for barbecues, picnics, potlucks, and family dinners.

The Inspiration

Potato salad has long been a staple of backyard cookouts and family gatherings, but this version celebrates one of the freshest ingredients available during late spring and early summer—garlic scapes. These curly green shoots are harvested from hardneck garlic plants before the bulbs mature, offering a mild garlic flavor with subtle onion notes that become sweet and smoky when grilled.

On Fresh Market Dinners, Amanda Herrera showcases recipes inspired by seasonal produce found at local farmers’ markets, encouraging home cooks to discover ingredients that often go overlooked. Grilling the garlic scapes enhances their natural sweetness while adding light char that pairs beautifully with creamy mayonnaise, fresh herbs, and warm red potatoes. Rather than relying on heavy seasoning, this recipe allows fresh ingredients to shine, resulting in a potato salad that’s bright, herbaceous, and incredibly satisfying.

Whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue, packing lunch for a picnic, or preparing a side dish for grilled meats and seafood, this potato salad delivers fresh flavors that feel both comforting and modern.

Ingredients

16 garlic scapes
1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice
2 pounds (907 g) red potatoes

Dressing

2/3 cup (160 ml) store-bought or homemade mayonnaise (see recipe)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
¼ teaspoon (1 ml) salt
¼ teaspoon (1 ml) fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons (45 ml) chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons (45 ml) chopped fresh dill

Method

Skewer garlic scapes, brush with oil and season with salt and pepper.
Grill scapes on barbeque over medium heat, turning until tender and charred.
Remove from grill. Squeeze lemon juice over top.
Let cool for a few minutes. Chop and add to bowl.
Add red potatoes to salted boiling water.
Cook until tender. Remove from water and cool slightly.
Gently press on warm potatoes with the flat of a knife and add to bowl with grilled scapes.

For the dressing

Add mayonnaise, olive oil, salt, and pepper to a small bowl and whisk thoroughly.
Pour dressing over potatoes and scapes and toss to combine.
Top with fresh parsley and dill, and stir in.

Serving Suggestions

This Grilled Garlic Scape Potato Salad recipe makes an exceptional side dish for nearly any summer meal. Serve it alongside grilled burgers, barbecue chicken, smoked ribs, grilled steak, pork chops, cedar plank salmon, or grilled sausages for a complete outdoor feast. Its creamy texture and fresh herbal flavors also pair beautifully with roasted vegetables, grilled corn on the cob, or crisp green salads, making it an excellent addition to picnics, potlucks, and family gatherings.

Because it’s delicious both slightly warm and chilled, this potato salad is easy to prepare ahead of time for entertaining. Garnish with extra chopped dill, parsley, cracked black pepper, and a few grilled garlic scape pieces before serving to create a vibrant presentation worthy of any summer table.

Final Thoughts

This Grilled Garlic Scape Potato Salad recipe is a celebration of fresh seasonal produce and simple cooking techniques that elevate everyday ingredients into something truly memorable. Smoky grilled garlic scapes, tender red potatoes, fragrant herbs, and a creamy dressing come together in perfect balance, creating a side dish that’s rich without feeling heavy and fresh without sacrificing comfort.

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