This week’s Main Ingredient is Capers!
With as many recipes that I’ve posted featuring capers, I figured it was about time for me to write an article about this tasty little ingredient. If you don’t already know by now, I love capers! I could eat an entire bowl of capers as if they were a snack. They are that good! Besides for being one of my finger-foods of choice, I also enjoy cooking various recipes that feature capers as an ingredient.
Capers are the unripened buds of a prickly, perennial plant called Capparis spinosa. Capers are commonly found in Mediterranean cuisine dishes, particularly Italian, French, and Greek. Two flavoring variations of capers you might be familiar with include salted or pickled, both of which are used as a seasoning or garnish in a recipe. Capers are usually pickled in salt and/or vinegar to enhance the natural flavor. Typically you will find capers sold in a jar soaking in the pickling juice.
Don’t let this little corn kernel sized ingredient fool you, as it packs an intense flavor! In many cases, it is recommended to rinse the capers with water prior to cooking. This will help keep the capers from overpowering the flavors of the other ingredients in the recipe.
As already mentioned, capers can be featured in many different types of recipes. Most commonly, you will find capers used in pastas, salads, chicken, and seafood dishes. Capers may also be the key ingredient in many sauces and dressings, such as my Homemade Caesar Dressing…which I highly recommend you try!
Other recipes on the site that feature capers include Garlic Herb Chicken with Capers, Spaghetti with Shrimp and Capers, and Lemon Pasta with Capers. If you love capers as much as I do, then you definitely want to try these recipes. If you’ve never had the pleasure of tasting capers, then now is the time! And don’t worry, the kids will love it too…trust me!
I can’t wait to taste your signature recipes that include capers as one of the main ingredients, so feel free to submit them on the site!
Health Note: Capers are a rich source of antioxidants!
