Get Creative With Capers

Cambria design shown: WINDERMERE™.
If you’ve ever looked at a jar of capers and wondered what they are, where they come from, and what to do with them, here’s the scoop. In their natural state, capers are flower buds. Once they’ve been harvested by hand (hence the gourmet price tag), they’re dried in the sun and preserved in a salt or a pungent vinegary brine that gives them their distinctive flavor. Ready to discover the power of capers? Buy a bottle of nonpareil capers (the smallest variety), drain them in a colander, rinse with cold water, and let them dry on a paper towel before using. Remember that a few capers go a long way, so be judicious. For a less intense taste, chop the capers before using. Store any unused capers in their original brine in the refrigerator.
Six Tasty Ways to Enjoy Capers
- Add to scrambled eggs right before you take the pan off the heat.
- Stir chopped capers into your salad dressing or strew a few on top of a salad.
- Swirl a few tablespoons of capers into a pasta sauce or a pan sauce for chicken or fish.
- Add capers to your favorite egg salad or deviled egg recipe.
- Mix into homemade or store-bought potato salad and sprinkle some extra capers over the top before serving.
- Blend chopped capers into hollandaise sauce for a luxurious eggs Benedict.