Flavor of the Week: Capers

Capers are a pantry item that pack a powerful, pungent, punch to otherwise bland food.  They are the immature buds of a bush native to the Mediterranean.  Harvested by hand, they are sun dried and then packed in a brine or coarse salt.  Size ranges from the small, nonpareil size to the larger, tip-of-your-finger size.  Recipes usually call for capers to be rinsed before using to remove excess salt.  These little buds add a sour, piquant flavor to salads, dressings, fish and chicken or other main dishes.  Capers are the key ingredient in a good tartar sauce, lemon, caper, butter sauce for fish or chicken...

...chicken piccata.
recipe here

I just made this Roasted Cauliflower with Olive Oil and Capers and it was fantastic.  It would make and excellent side dish for Thanksgiving.  Capers were a delicious counterbalance to the earthy cauliflower.  

Capers are a usual accompaniment with bagels and lox.

View a past Spiral Style post with a recipe for pasta with tuna including capers here. 

Reach for a jar of capers to add flavor to otherwise ho-hum ingredients.