What is a caper? Here’s what you know about capers and how to use them in salads, cheeseboards and more.
You’ve heard of capers, but what are capers? Both can come from the same plant, but don’t substitute one for the other! The elegant shape of these berries makes them ideal as a chic garnish on salads or cheeseboards, but they don’t lend themselves to sauces and batters like small round capers. Alex is a big fan of this salty and brackish ingredient: and he converted me too. Here’s what you need to know!
What are capers?
Caper berries are the seed-filled fruits of the Mediterranean caper plant. They look like a long-stemmed olive, elongated and greenish-gray. Caper berries are sold marinated in jars: you can find them near the olives in the grocery store. They are widely used in Mediterranean cuisine such as Spanish, Italian and Greek dishes.
Do not confuse capers with capers! Capers are the small round flower buds of the caper plant. They are much smaller, completely round, and are used more often in recipes (such as chicken piccata, caper sauce, or smoked salmon bagels). Capers have a saltier and brackish flavor and are ideal for flavoring pasta and sauces. Pungent, brackish, savory caper berries, like a sweet version of a caper; They are more commonly used as an accompaniment to salads or charcuterie platters.
Ways to use capers
Can we replace the capers with capers? No, not as you might think. The berries are much larger than capers and contain seeds that make their texture crunchier. Because of their elegant stems, they are suitable as a topping in salads, not as an ingredient in sauces. Don’t add capers to the pasta like you would with capers!
When serving capers The eater must remove the stem before eating. It looks more like a side dish than a salad item. Here are the best ways to use capers:
More quick guides
Confused by an ingredient or want to learn more about the secrets of flavors? Here are some additional quick guides to walk through:
- ⅓ cup hummus
- 8th English cucumber slices (or regular cucumber, peeled)
- 1 a handful of sliced red onion (or shallot)
- 1 a handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1 a handful of Kalamata olives
- 3 capers
- 2 tablespoons Feta cheese for sprinkling (optional or use vegan feta for vegans)
- 1 a handful of baby lettuce or chopped lettuce (optional)
- ½ cup cooked rice or packaged pre-cooked rice (optional) or Easy Couscous or Easy Orzo
- 1 gluten-free flatbread, pita chips or crackers
- Optional toppings: calabrian casserole or roasted red peppers, fresh herbs, frozen or homemade falafel, etc.
- Add vegetables and rice to bowl, if using (try packaged pre-cooked rice for a quick shortcut). If using rice, season with salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
- Top with hummus, sliced cucumber, sliced red onion, sliced tomato, olives and feta cheese. Garnish with capers. Eat with pita wedges and use the hummus as a dip/dressing for the veggies.
- Category: main course
- Method: no chef
- Kitchen: Mediterranean Sea
- Diet: vegetarian
Keywords: Caper berries, caper berries
