The Top 5 Alternatives to Capers

You’re getting ready to make bruschetta and chicken piccata for supper when you realize halfway through that you’re missing the capers, which are a key component of both dishes. Take stock of your pantry and refrigerator instead of rushing to the grocery store in a panic because you probably have a substitute for capers that will give your dish just the right amount of brine and vinegar.

Capers, which are made from the pickled flower buds of the Capparis Spinosa shrub, are a bitter, salty, tangy, and acidic addition that perfectly balances brightness and punch to a variety of dishes, including salads, pastas, dips, and of course, chicken piccata.

But since not everyone keeps a jar of capers in the fridge, use a stand-in for capers when you need that briny, tangy kick when you least expect it. See our guide for the top 5 caper replacements, which will surely improve any dish—from bruschetta to chicken piccata—that requires a little more kick of flavor to be exceptional.

1. Green Olives

Similar to capers, green olives have an acidic, salty taste that will give your meal the much-needed pop. It’s also likely that you have a jar of them in your refrigerator that you only use for special occasions like dinner parties. Give your olives a rough chop and replace them in your recipe at a 1:2 ratio to bring them closer in size to capers.

2. Dill Pickles

Dill pickles are a fantastic alternative to capers in any recipe because they are so full of briny flavor. Pickles offer a better crunch than capers, but if you’re really looking for that tart burst of vinegar, these dill pickles will definitely deliver. Chop the pickles to the same size as the capers, then switch them out 1:1.

3. Lemon

A squeeze of lemon adds just the right amount of acidity and zing to almost any dish, and it can also improve the flavor of recipes calling for capers. But since lemon juice has a much stronger sour taste than capers, if you choose to use it instead, start with a tiny squeeze and then adjust the amount to achieve the desired balance.

4. Caper Berries

When the flower bud that produces capers is allowed to grow a little bit longer, the result is a larger, milder version of the typical caper, known as caper berries. Treat them like you would green olives and give them a rough chop because they are much bigger. From there, your recipe can call for the same quantity of chopped caper berries.

5. Green Peppercorns

In contrast to its more widely used counterpart, the black peppercorn, the flavor of green peppercorns is rather moderate. They do, however, work quite well as a caper alternative, particularly if you want it to resemble the genuine thing. Green peppercorns can be used in place of capers in any recipe, and pickling them with water, salt, and lemon will give them a more tangy, briny taste.

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