Looking for the best substitute for capers?
You're going to love these options! I love Italian dishes like Chicken Piccata and Chicken Cacciatore, where the key ingredient is the bitter and salty caper.
However, not everyone is a fan of their spicy and intense flavor.
That's where you'll need to find a good alternative to capers that works well and tastes just as good.
Capers, native to the Mediterranean, are small flower buds from the caper shrub.
They add a unique vegetal note to recipes, often used as a topping.
But if you're out of capers or simply prefer something different, plenty of substitutes are available.
In this article, I've combined the 15 best substitutes for capers. Keep reading for the full list with tips!
Best Substitutes For Capers
Need a quick answer? The best substitutes for capers are chopped green olives, chopped kalamata olives, lemon juice, pickles or pickled onions, green peppercorns, nasturtium seeds, anchovies, artichoke hearts, wine, and vinegar.
Jump To
- Best Substitutes For Capers
- What are Capers?
- ✅ Best Substitutes For Capers
- 2. Pickled Jalapeno Peppers
- What Do Capers Taste Like?
- Capers Flavour Pairings
- Health Benefits Of Capers
- What Are Caper Berries vs Non-Pareil Capers?
- Popular Caper Recipes
- Capers vs Olives
- How to Store Capers?
- Capers Substitute: Frequently Asked Questions
- Capers: FAQs
- Final Thoughts
- You Might Also Like...
- Did you like this article?
- Comments
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What are Capers?
Capers are a popular cooking ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine.
These small green edible flower buds come from the Capparis Spinosa plant (Caper Bush) and they bring floral, salty, and tangy notes to dishes such as Lemon Caper Chicken, Pasta Puttanesca or Cured Salmon.
Look for them in small jars near condiments or Italian ingredients in most supermarkets.
Capers are versatile enough to enhance any pasta and salad dishes, making them a must-have ingredient that brings a burst of flavor to any recipe.
While these buds have a unique flavor that is difficult to replicate, you can still substitute capers with chopped green olives or chopped pickles for a similar tangy and briny taste in your recipes.
Read along to discover those alternatives more in-depth in this post.
✅ Best Substitutes For Capers
This is just a quick note that the effectiveness of these caper replacements may vary based on the recipe and how capers are used.
Let's explore 15 simple substitutes for capers:
1. Green Olives
Capers are the perfect addition to add saltiness, acidity, and savory flavors to your dishes.
🫒 If you're running low on capers, you can sneakily substitute them with chopped green or Kalamata olives to get a similar taste.
Kalamata olives can also add the briny taste without the slight bitterness of capers.
Use one olive for every two capers due to their size difference.
Overall, from all the alternatives, I think green olives are a good substitute for capers.
💡 How To Use: If substituting green olives for capers, chop the olives into very small pieces.
Green Olives are often used in sauces, pasta, pasta salads, pizzas, salads, and casseroles.
2. Pickled Jalapeno Peppers
If you don't have capers on hand, pickled jalapeno peppers can be a flavorful substitute.
They bring a similar tangy but spicy kick to your dishes, providing a unique twist.
Just take care to adjust the quantity based on your preference for heat. They are similar in color and will taste similar.
💡 How To Use: Cut them very small into a caper-like size and add to your favorite dishes.
Jalapenos work well in casseroles, savory muffins, pizzas, pastas, burgers, grilled meats, dips.
- Related: Creamy Jalapeno Popper Dip Recipe
2. Black Olives
If you don't have capers, black olives work as a solid replacement.
They give a similar briny kick and add a touch of saltiness and bitterness, making them a good recipe alternative.
Just play around with the amount to find your desired flavor.
💡How To Use: Like green olives, depending on the recipe, you may need to chop black olives into small, close to caper-sized pieces.
Black olives are often used in sauces, pastas, pizzas, salads, and casseroles.
4. Caper Berries
Caper berries, which look similar to capers but are larger, can be an excellent substitute for capers.
They offer a similar bitter and salty flavor.
Use them in the same way as capers, though you might want to chop them to match the size.
💡How To Use: Cut them into quarters or chop them finely.
Use caper berries in dishes involving grilled meats, dressings, pasta, roasted veggies, and salads.
What are Caper Berries?
Caper berries and capers are both derived from the caper plant, but they differ in size and flavor.
Caper berries are larger and also have salty but less bitter taste, than briny capers.
5. Lemon
Lemon and capers both contribute tangy flavors to dishes, but they offer different flavor profiles.
Lemon brightens any dish, adding citrusy acidity that brings freshness to the dish.
Capers provide a briny and slightly salty taste.
To compensate for the lack of bitterness that capers deliver, add a fresh crack of black pepper to the dish with lemon.
💡 How To Use: As lemon juice. Lemon can be substituted for capers in most of the dishes that call for capers.
6. Lime Juice
Limes make a decent substitute for capers, although they have a slightly stronger bitterness.
Use lime juice in moderation to avoid overpowering the dish.
Instead of capers, replace them with an equal amount of freshly squeezed lime juice in recipes.
💡 How To Use: You can make salads, sandwiches, and fish dishes tastier by adding whole limes or freshly grated lime peel.
Put fresh lime slices in drinks like margaritas or mojitos for extra flavor without the saltiness of capers.
7. Pickles or Pickled Onions
If you don't have capers, you can use pickles, gerkins, cornichons instead (dill pickles are great here).
They bring a tangy and briny flavor to your dishes, although the texture may differ.
Just adjust the amount to match the taste you're looking for.
🧅 Pickled red onions are also a great substitute as well as they provide a similar tangy and slightly sweet flavor to your dish.
Just take care in quantities as the texture and intensity may vary.
💡 How To Use: To substitute pickles and pickled onions for capers, chop them finely and add them to the dish.
Both are best in salads, pasta, meat dishes, roasted vegetables, casseroles, and some sauces.
8. Green Peppercorns
Green peppercorns (in brine) make a great substitute for capers.
They have a similar appearance but with a milder peppery flavor and less spiciness.
💡 How To Use: You can use them straight from the jar or pickle your own, and they work well in a variety of dishes like poultry, fish, vegetables, and soups.
⚫ Black peppercorns could work, too, if you have exhausted all your options.
9. Fresh Thyme or Dried Thyme
Fresh or dried thyme can be a suitable substitute for capers, although they have different flavor profiles.
🌿 Thyme has quite a distinct pungency with hints of mint, bitterness, and lemon, and adds a pleasant aroma to dishes.
You can also use ground thyme instead.
💡 How To Use: Thyme is good in slow-cooked dishes and sauces, but avoid it in recipes where capers play a prominent role.
It also works well in braised and roasted meats, vegetables, fish, soups, stocks, and marinades.
10. Artichoke Hearts
You can use artichoke hearts as a substitute for capers, which you can buy pickled or marinated.
Besides their brininess, artichoke hearts also bring an earthy flavor that adds complexity to your dish.
💡 How To Use: Simply drain and quarter them before adding to dips, chicken, fish, or pasta recipes, adjusting the amount to your preference.
- Related: Spinach Artichoke Dip recipe
11. Anchovies
If you're out of capers, anchovies can work as a substitute, although they have a distinct fishy flavor.
Their saltiness and umami can add a punch to your dish, especially with a squeeze of lemon.
💡 How To Use: When replacing capers with anchovies, I recommend making an anchovy paste (similar to Caesar salad dressing.
Use in salads, sauces, and dips to achieve that missing umami taste. Use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming the taste.
12. Red Wine or White Wine
If you're out of capers, red or white wine can be a suitable substitute with its fruity and acidic taste.
However, the wine lacks the briny and lemony notes of capers.
💡 How To Use: To replace caper vinegar brine, combine one part red or white wine with two parts caper brine and simmer over low heat until the liquid evaporates.
Use this reduced wine mixture to replace sauces, dressings, marinades, or other recipes.
13. Vinegar
Vinegar is a less popular but still an option for substituting capers.
Vinegar is more acidic and lacks the lemony taste of capers.
💡 How To Use: To make the vinegar more suitable, add additional seasonings.
Opt for white wine, red wine vinegar and use the same quantity as you would capers in the recipe.
To counterbalance the vinegar's sharpness, a pinch of sugar can replicate the subtle briny flavor of capers.
For added depth, incorporate fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley.
14. Nasturtium Seeds
Just like capers, nasturtium seeds are not the most popular ingredient in your pantry.
However, if you happen to find them, these fiery seeds can be a remarkable substitute.
💡 How To Use: Simply pickle them with vinegar, garlic, and dill, and store them in the refrigerator until needed.
Replace capers with an equal amount of nasturtium seeds for a zesty twist.
15. Feta Cheese
Using feta cheese as a substitute for capers can add a creamy and tangy flavor to your dishes.
While it won't provide the same briny taste as capers, it can still offer a delicious contrast.
💡 How To Use: Simply crumble or chop the feta cheese and use it in similar quantities to capers in your recipe. As feta cheese is already salty, adjust the saltiness of your dish accordingly.
What Do Capers Taste Like?
Capers add a tangy, a little bitter, briny, and a zesty kick to dishes like Chicken Piccata, Chicken Cacciatore, Salmon or Pasta Puttanesca.
Overall their flavor is salty and a little sour.
Capers Flavour Pairings
Capers pair well with a variety of foods, including:
- Fish and seafood dishes, such as salmon, tuna, and shrimp.
- Pasta dishes, like puttanesca or pasta primavera.
- Salads, especially those with olives, tomatoes, and leafy greens.
- Chicken and turkey dishes, including piccata and cacciatore.
- Mediterranean-inspired recipes, such as Greek salads and tapenades.
- Sauces and dressings, like tartar sauce and vinaigrettes.
- Antipasti platters, alongside cured meats, cheeses, and crusty bread.
- Vegetable dishes, such as roasted vegetables or ratatouille.
Health Benefits Of Capers
Capers are not only flavorful but they bring a good amount of health benefits to the table.
Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, these little buds offer anti-inflammatory properties and support bone health, making them a delicious and nutritious addition to your meals.
What Are Caper Berries vs Non-Pareil Capers?
Caper berries are like the cool, older siblings of non-pareil capers.
They're bigger, juicier, and less intense in flavor, while non-pareil capers are small and mighty flavor bombs that add a zesty kick to your dishes.
Popular Caper Recipes
Capers are a popular ingredient in the Mediterranean diet and can be mixed in other dishes as well.
Some of the popular caper food recipes include:
- Piccata (Pork, Chicken, Fish)
- Pasta Puttanesca (Pasta with capers, chili, garlic and anchovies)
- Sauces and Dips: Caper Tapenade, Tartar Sauce, Lemon Caper Sauce
- Potato Salads
- Remoulade Sauce
- Served with Cured or Cold-smoked Salmon Sandwiches
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Eggplant Pasta
- Lemon Caper Chicken
- Chicken Cacciatore
- Green Goddess Dip With Capers
Capers vs Olives
Capers and olives are both Mediterranean staples, but they bring different flavors to the table.
Capers are briny and tangy, adding a zesty kick, while olives offer a rich, salty and savory taste that's perfect for complementing various dishes.
How to Store Capers?
To store capers, keep unopened jars in a cool, dark place.
Once opened, put them in the fridge, making sure they're covered in their liquid. If you transfer them, use an airtight container.
Capers Substitute: Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Substitute For Capers in Piccata?
Chicken piccata is a delicious Italian meal. It's made by cooking thin chicken pieces in a tasty sauce with lemon and capers.
If you don't have capers, use green olives, green peppercorns, or dill pickles instead.
Olives are a great substitute as they have a similar taste profile with their tangy and briny flavor. They are great for chicken sauces.
Just chop them up finely and add them in the same amount as capers for a tasty twist on the classic recipe.
What is the Best Substitute for Capers in Puttanesca?
To replace capers in Puttanesca sauce, use chopped green olives or chopped dill pickles for a similar tangy flavor.
Substitute capers in Chicken Cacciatore: The best substitute for capers in chicken cacciatore is chopped green olives because they have a similar briny flavor.
Use the same amount of green olives as you would capers.
How to Substitute for Capers in Salad Dressing?
The best substitute for capers in salad dressing is chopped green olives because they have a similar briny taste.
Use the same amount of green olives as you would capers.
How to Substitute for Capers in Tartar Sauce?
The best substitute for capers in tartar sauce is finely chopped dill pickles because they have a similar tangy flavor.
Use the same amount of pickles as you would capers.
How to Substitute for Capers in Sauce?
The best substitute for capers in sauce is chopped green olives because they have a similar salty, briny flavor.
Use the same amount of green olives as you would capers.
Can I Substitute Thyme for Capers?
Thyme and capers have very different flavors, so they aren't direct substitutes.
If you need a substitute for capers, try chopped green olives or finely chopped dill pickles for a similar briny taste.
Use thyme if you want an herbal note in addition to these substitutes.
Can I Substitute Brined Capers for Salt Packed?
Yes, you can substitute brined capers for salt-packed capers.
Just rinse the salt-packed capers thoroughly to remove excess salt before using them.
Use the same amount, but taste the dish as you go, as salt-packed capers can be saltier than brined ones.
Capers: FAQs
Salted capers are cured and preserved in salt, providing a stronger flavor, while capers in brine are preserved in a solution of water, vinegar, and salt, offering a milder flavor.
The choice between the two depends on the desired flavor intensity in your recipe.
Capers are good for you because they have vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help keep you healthy.
Just be careful not to eat too many because they are salty.
Capers may be tiny, but they bring a mighty flavor to the table. They have a tangy, lemony, and slightly olive-like taste that adds a burst of excitement to dishes.
This intense flavor comes from the release of mustard oil, specifically methyl isothiocyanate, found in glucocapparin molecules.
The best substitutes for the flavor of capers are green olives and gherkins (or cornichons).
To fry capers, drain them, then cook them in hot oil until crispy, about 1-2 minutes.
Once crispy and golden brown, remove them from the oil and let them drain before using them as a crunchy topping for salads or pasta.
You can substitute capers with salmon with chopped green olives or pickled jalapenos for that zesty, briny flavor.
And if you're feeling fancy, sprinkle some dill weed or fresh lemon zest to bring out some refreshing notes.
Although not toxic, capers should be avoided in a dog's diet due to their high sodium content and potential for gastrointestinal issues.
Olives, Jalapenos, and Pickles. For more in-depth information about each replacement, please scroll to the blog post above.
Capers will add a salty, tangy, briny, vinegary, and pungent, flavor to any recipe.
Yes, capers are 100% naturally gluten free.
The best caper substitutes are chopped green olives, chopped kalamata olives, lemon juice, pickles or pickled onions, green peppercorns.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for a substitute for capers in a recipe, there are many good options.
Green olives are a good substitute for capers, offering a similar briny taste.
Chopped dill pickles or caper berries are also excellent substitutes.
Capers are native to the Mediterranean and have a dark green color and a spicy, intense flavor.
If you need a quick substitute for capers, try using pickled antipasti like artichoke hearts.
These alternatives work well and can be aromatic and crispy compared to capers.
So, remember these options next time you're looking for an alternative to capers!
Peaches
Hello,
The fact that capers contain a bit of a mustard flavor might be mentioned at the beginning of the article.
That would have immediately sent me to look at substitutes as I am not a fan of mustard at all.
The substitutes listed for capers are quite helpful and do not include mustard! Yea!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you so much, I will add it to the post!
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Explore 14 simple yet delicious alternatives for capers. We love all of these options!