What’s the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas (2024)

What’s the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas (1)

So, What Are Capers?

Capers are the pickled flower buds of a Mediterranean shrub called the Capparis spinosa. They’re typically preserved in a salt and water brine or packed in a mixture of brine and vinegar. Some fancier capers are cured in salt. They’re slightly vegetal and sweet, and forwardly acidic, tangy, sour, bitter and salty. Capers can brighten up everything from eggs to antipasti. They add complexity and a lip-smacking punch to tons of chicken and fish dishes (we see you, tartar sauce). They also work wonders in salad dressings, sauces, veggies and pastas.

The best part? Capers keep indefinitely as long as they stay submerged in their own brine, so grab a jar at the store the next time you see one. Until then, here are nine substitutes for capers to use in a pinch.

1. Green olives

They’re salty, they’re acidic, they’re savory, they’re buried somewhere in your fridge—what more can you ask for? Cut them down to caper-like size to hide your secret swap (we won’t tell). Black or Kalamata olives can also bring a pop of brine, but with less caper-like bitterness. Due to the difference in size, substitute one olive for every two capers.

2. Lemon

What a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon makes. You’ll get a similar acidity and zip. Add a few cracks of freshly-ground black pepper to the lemon juice for some bite and bitterness. Because lemon is intensely sour and acidic, substitute for capers by using your taste as a guide.

3. Pickles

Dill pickles are a worthy swap, even if their signature crunch is a little more intense. If you don’t mind veering away from that dark green color scheme, pickled red onions offer the same vinegary jolt in a pretty pink package. Cut the pickles into caper-sized pieces and sub in equal amounts.

4. Green peppercorns

Visually, this substitute for capers is a solid doppelganger. Green peppercorns are less spicy and intense than black peppercorns, so you can use them without worrying they’ll throw off the dish. Use them straight from the jar, or pickle your own in water, salt and lemon. Sub green peppercorns for capers in equal amounts or use as a garnish.

5. Thyme

This herb has a distinct pungency and offers a caper-esque bitterness and notes of lemon. Add it early on (use less of dried or ground thyme than you would fresh) so the flavor has a chance to show off. The aroma isn’t too shabby, either. Substitute thyme for capers in slow-cooked dishes and sauces, but not in dishes where capers are the star.

6. Caper berries

Caper berries are what you get if you let those Mediterranean flower buds grow instead of turning them into capers prematurely. They’re bigger in size and milder in taste, but they’re a decent replacement. Since these are similar to olives in size, we’d suggest substituting one caper berry for every few capers.

7. Artichoke hearts

Buy them pickled or marinated. Aside from brininess, there’s also an earthy quality to artichokes that’ll add additional complexity to whatever you’re making. Drain and quarter these before adding to chicken, fish or pasta dishes, and measure to taste.

8. Anchovies

OK, fish and capers are pretty different. But they’re loaded with salt and umami, which can be just the ticket when you’re in a bind, especially with a spritz of lemon to round it out. Go easy on the anchovies, unless you really want to up the fishy flavor. A little goes a long way.

9. Nasturtium seeds

We know, if you don’t have capers it’s pretty unlikely you’ll have nasturtium seeds. But these peppery seeds are an uncanny substitute for capers. Pickle them yourself in a small jar with vinegar, garlic and dill. Leave it in the fridge until you need it (it’s likely sooner than you think). Replace capers with nasturtium seeds in equal amounts.

Looking for more ingredient substitutes?

Ready to cook? Here are some of our favorite recipes that call for capers.

RELATED: Are Pickles Good for You? We Crunched the Facts

What’s the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What’s the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas? ›

Pickles. Dill pickles are a worthy swap, even if their signature crunch is a little more intense. If you don't mind veering away from that dark green color scheme, pickled red onions offer the same vinegary jolt in a pretty pink package. Cut the pickles into caper-sized pieces and sub in equal amounts.

What is the best substitute for capers? ›

What's the Best Substitute for Capers? Try These 9 Ideas
  1. Green olives. They're salty, they're acidic, they're savory, they're buried somewhere in your fridge—what more can you ask for? ...
  2. Lemon. What a difference a squeeze of fresh lemon makes. ...
  3. Pickles. ...
  4. Green peppercorns. ...
  5. Thyme. ...
  6. Caper berries. ...
  7. Artichoke hearts. ...
  8. Anchovies.
Apr 15, 2020

Can I skip capers in chicken piccata? ›

Capers aren't everyone's cup of tea, so feel free to leave them out even though they do add a briny bite to the dish. Or, if you don't have capers but do have meaty green olives in the pantry, you can chop them small and add them to the dish.

What are capers compared to? ›

Capers are un-ripened flower buds from the capparis spinosa grown in the Mediterranean. After picked, they are sun dried and preserved then brined or cured in salt ready to eat. Capers are described as tasting like a green olive but with a salty and lemon zest.

Can you use anchovies instead of capers? ›

They compliment each other, but have very different flavor profiles, and are not, in my experience, interchangeable. Anchovies have a smokey, salty, nutty depth, not unlike worcestershire sauce, but more dense, and concentrated. Capers, on the other hand, have a briny, tart, pickled taste.

What olives are similar to capers? ›

Using Kalamata Olives as a Substitute

They impart a similar salty tang but have a more pronounced fruity flavor. When substituting, one can use kalamata olives in equal measure but should finely chop them to match the size of capers.

What olives taste like capers? ›

Substitutes for Capers

If you're in a pinch, substitute a 1:1 ratio of finely chopped green olives. (For example, one tablespoon of chopped green olives for one tablespoon of capers.) Kalamata olives work too, but don't tend to be as tangy as green olives.

Do you rinse capers before cooking with them? ›

Capers that are dry-packed in salt are prized for their intense flavor, but usually are found only in specialty shops. They also must be rinsed very well before using. Brine- or vinegar-packed capers also can be rinsed, but it isn't essential.

What do capers do for a dish? ›

Salty, briny, vinegary, and pungent, capers give any dish a tangy burst of flavor.

Can you omit capers? ›

Chopped green olives - the olives won't be recognized as olives and your food will taste the same as it would with capers! Green peppercorns - they are also an amazing substitute for capers in cooking. They even look alike.

Are capers healthy or unhealthy? ›

Capers enhance flavor without adding significant amounts of calories, fat, or sugar. This makes them an excellent option for people looking to cut calories but still enjoy tasty dishes. Beyond their flavorful and low calorie nature, capers provide a variety of health benefits.

Are capers inflammatory? ›

In particular, capers have been shown to reduce inflammation, enhance liver health, stabilize blood sugar levels and more.

Do capers have a fishy taste? ›

Are capers fish? This isn't the first time I've heard this, but no, capers aren't fish. However, they do pair nicely with fish, and their salty, umami flavour is reminiscent of anchovies.

What is a substitute for capers in chicken piccata? ›

what can substitute for capers in chicken piccata? There are two best alternatives for capers in a chicken picatta recipe: fresh thyme or green olives.

How long do capers last in the fridge? ›

Stored in the fridge, properly submerged in the liquid they are packaged in, capers may last up to a year. Unopened and in the pantry, you can rely on these tasty buds for twice that long. Don't forget: "Best By" dates are more of a suggestion than a rule. If there are no signs of spoilage, go ahead and use them.

Do capers taste like mustard? ›

Capers have a pungent, peppery taste that is similar to that of mustard – the pickling process causes mustard oil to be released – and are widely used in southern Italian cuisine for seasoning and garnish.

What do capers do for a recipe? ›

Salty, briny, vinegary, and pungent, capers give any dish a tangy burst of flavor.

What do capers taste off? ›

What do capers taste like? Intensely salty and acidic, capers taste sort of like a green olive, but with lemony undertones and a big more tang. While you may be likened to munch on olives from a charcuterie board, capers are better eaten combined with other ingredients to dial back their robust flavor.

Do capers taste like vinegar? ›

In a word: salty. But there's more going on than just salt, thanks to the brine. Capers taste vinegary, acidic, and downright delightful.

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