How to Use Capers in Cuisine: Professional Tips from Mediterranean Kitchens

Tiny but mighty, capers can transform a simple dish into a culinary masterpiece.With their bold tang and briny depth, they are one of the Mediterranean’s most powerful yet underappreciated flavor enhancers.At BestCapers by Tuna Sourcing, we work with chefs and food manufacturers worldwide — and here, we share the essential ways to master the art of cooking with capers.

Understanding the Role of Capers in Mediterranean Cuisine

In Mediterranean cooking, capers are not just an ingredient — they are a bridge between acidity and aroma.They balance rich or creamy dishes, cut through fat, and intensify natural flavors.

From Italian pasta alla puttanesca to Greek salads and Turkish fish mezes, capers add brightness and harmony wherever they appear.

Choosing the Right Caper Size for Each Dish

Each caper size serves a different culinary purpose:

• Lilliput (3–5 mm): Perfect for sauces and garnishes — melts easily into hot dishes.

• Non-pareille (5–7 mm): Ideal for salads, seafood, and pasta — balanced acidity and bite.

• Surfine / Capucine (7–9 mm): Excellent for cooking — maintain texture and shape.

• Capote / Fine (9–12 mm): Great for meat dishes and stews — meaty and bold.

• Caperberries: Used whole in charcuterie boards or as cocktail garnishes.

Selecting the right size ensures the caper complements rather than overpowers your dish.

How to Prepare Capers Before Cooking

Many chefs skip this step — but preparation determines flavor balance.

1. Rinse Lightly:

If your capers are stored in brine or salt, rinse them under cold water to remove excess sodium. This reveals their true floral and tangy notes.

2. Pat Dry:

Before sautéing or frying, pat them dry with a paper towel. This helps them crisp up and intensify in flavor.

3. Infuse or Fry:

Try infusing capers in olive oil or lightly frying them — they bloom like flowers and gain a nutty, crunchy texture.

Classic Mediterranean Ways to Use Capers

In Pasta and Sauces

Capers pair beautifully with tomato-based sauces (Puttanesca, Arrabbiata), seafood pastas, and lemon-butter sauces.Add them at the end of cooking to preserve their sharpness.

With Fish and Seafood

Capers are a traditional match for grilled sea bass, salmon, or anchovies.Their acidity enhances the natural sweetness of fish and balances olive oil-based marinades.

In Salads and Dressings

Chopped capers bring zest to potato salad, lentil salad, or cold couscous.Mix them into vinaigrettes for a salty-citrus kick that replaces vinegar.

In Meat and Poultry Dishes

Use capers to finish veal piccata, roasted chicken, or beef tartare.They add instant brightness to hearty or savory preparations.

In Tapenades and Dips

Blend capers with olives, anchovies, and olive oil to create a rich Mediterranean spread — ideal for appetizers and sandwiches.

Chef Tips: Getting the Best Flavor from Capers

• Always add capers near the end of cooking to keep their texture crisp.

• Combine with fresh lemon zest or parsley to amplify aroma.

• For depth, balance capers with sweet or creamy ingredients (tomatoes, yogurt, cheese).

• Don’t overuse — a little goes a long way.

Creative Culinary Applications

Modern chefs are rediscovering capers as a natural seasoning alternative:

• Mix minced capers into butter for seafood.

• Use caper brine in salad dressings or martinis.

• Add to bread dough or focaccia toppings.

• Combine with roasted vegetables for a tangy glaze.

Capers add not just salt, but dimension — transforming basic ingredients into Mediterranean stories.

Sustainably Delicious: The BestCapers Promise

At BestCapers by Tuna Sourcing, we source capers from sustainable farms in Turkey, Morocco, and Southern Europe, ensuring year-round consistency and authentic Mediterranean taste.Each batch is hand-selected, naturally brined, and certified for export under ISO 22000, HACCP, and FSSC 22000 standards.

We deliver capers not only as an ingredient — but as a culinary experience.

A Taste of the Mediterranean in Every Bite

When used with intention, capers become the soul of a dish — offering balance, brightness, and history.Cooking with capers means cooking with centuries of Mediterranean wisdom, preserved and perfected for the modern kitchen.