If one has less of capers or would like to get creative with one’s recipe, one can make use of a capers substitute in order to get right kind of taste in the palate.
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Capers
Capers indeed do add a lot of flavor to savory dishes when used as a garnish. Capers are rather used to add a salty and briny taste as well as texture to salads, pasta, meat, and fish dishes that are indeed associated with Italian as well as Greek flavors.
Capers Substitute
There is nothing quite like a caper, but there are plenty of capers substitutes in case one does not have any on hand or would like to experiment with other flavors. Green olives do make for a great caper substitute as they indeed have a pungent taste. If one would like to try something new, one can also add thyme or nasturtium seeds or peppercorns to one’s cooking.
Green Olives
Visit the olive bar at one’s specialty grocer or grab a jar of green olives from anywhere. Remove any of the pits; chop them to corn kernel size, and use in chicken piccata or salads in place of capers. The flavors do vary by producer and type, so sample a few varieties in order to find the ones one likes.
Thyme
Thyme is an herb that can be used for garnishing one’s dish. It does provide a similar flavor to capers and also does makes for a savory addition.
Nasturtium Seeds
Not used by many, nasturtium seeds are indeed a great capers substitute as they can, of course, mimic the peppery flavor and also enhance the taste of one’s past as well as salads.
Dill Pickles
Similar to capers as well as olives, pickles do get their powerful flavor from their specific brine. The amount of salt and types of vinegar and spices vary greatly, but on the other hand, cucumber pickles can also be a good capers substitute. Try to get hold of artisan varieties for more complex flavors and then add a little at a time to ensure one does not get overwhelmed with the other ingredients. Pickles are tasty when they are diced into pasta salads as well as cold dishes.
Pickled Artichoke Hearts
The earthy flavors of artichokes work well with chicken as well as fish, and they are fiber-rich to boot. Try pickling these or any of the veggies at home for a simple and satisfying addition to one’s cooking when one chooses not to use capers.
Mustard Greens
If pickled foods are not what one relishes then one can still enjoy classic dishes. Which are cooked with mustard greens that have a peppery ‘piquant’ (meaning pleasantly sharp) flavor? Sauté mustard greens as a side or need to be chopped them into a salad with a little extra salt to replace capers in the recipe.
Lemon and Peppercorns
A blend of fresh ground black pepper as well as lemon zest will indeed add much flavor to one’s dish and is the good substitute for the brightness of capers.