Soon, very soon, the New Year spirit will arrive, along with the desire to prepare something special for the table. Housewives will rush to make menus and look for recipes. But sometimes certain ingredients are hard to find. Either they’re sold out or they haven’t been delivered yet. It’s great if you can visit several supermarkets and find what you need, but what if that’s not possible?
The buds of this plant (caper bush) are not eaten fresh. they are first marinated for a long time in vinegar or oil, and this greatly affects their taste – salted capers are more pungent, with a pronounced bitterness and tart aroma, while oil-marinated capers have a milder, sweeter taste and a delicate aroma.
Capers are small green buds marinated in brine. In our cuisine, the tradition of eating them is just taking root, because the product is exotic and rare.
They have a spicy aroma and a salty taste with a hint of bitterness. They are somewhat reminiscent of olives. They are not eaten fresh because of their specific taste and high sodium content. In cooking, they are rarely used in desserts, but even then, only by those who like them.
Like all plants, capers contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial to our body.
In addition to the buds, young shoots are also harvested—they are pickled and eaten as a condiment or a snack on their own; and the fruits—they can be eaten fresh or pickled. They are similar in taste and aroma to flower buds, although they are less valued.
What can be used as a substitute:
1) Olives or black olives are the most common substitute—they go well with meat and fish dishes.
2) Pickled nasturtium seeds or buds are also good in any dish.
3) Gherkins – good in salads – salty, sour, crunchy. But “adult” salted cucumbers will also add a little bitterness;
4) Pickled green tomatoes – also mainly used in cold appetizers;
5) Green peas (pickled, of course).
If the substitute product (usually peas) lacks the sour and bitter notes that give it a special piquancy, you can add mustard or a drop of vinegar to the salad.
Try, experiment, and enjoy new flavors.