what are capers?

Hello!

A "caper" is basically the small bud of the flower bud of a bush native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia.

This is how they look like:

http://home.ntelos.net/~renders/market_capers.jpg

The small buds are picked, sun-dried and then pickled in a vinegar brine.

Capers are a common ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine

Capers are great to add flavor to suace and to garnish dishes.

I especially love it in a fish dish!

Hope that helps!

GOOD LUCK!

Capers are :

The caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a perennial spiny shrub that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and big white to pinkish-white flowers. A caper is also the pickled bud of this plant. The bush is native to the Mediterranean region, growing wild on walls or in rocky coastal areas throughout. The plant is best known for the edible bud and fruit (caper berry) which are usually consumed pickled. Other species of Capparis are also picked along with C. spinosa for their buds or fruits.

And on a personal note if you have never tried them that you know of, do so. they are salty and have a good little bite to them and are great in salads, and many other dishes-

Capers of commerce are immature flower buds which have been pickled in vinegar or preserved in granular salt. Semi-mature fruits (caperberries) and young shoots with small leaves may also be pickled for use as a condiment.

Capers have a sharp piquant flavor and add pungency, a peculiar aroma and saltiness to comestibles such as pasta sauces, pizza, fish, meats and salads. The flavor of caper may be described as being similar to that of mustard and black pepper. In fact, the caper strong flavor comes from mustard oil: methyl isothiocyanate (released from glucocapparin molecules) arising from crushed plant tissues .

Capers are the pickled flower buds of the Caper plant (capparis spinosa).

They add great flavor to a dish. Any grocery store has them, usually by the pickles.