10+ Recipes with Capers for Flavorful Dishes

Capers are small, flavorful buds that can add a unique touch to many dishes. They are often used in Mediterranean cuisine and can enhance the taste of meats, pasta, salads, and sauces. You can use capers in your cooking to elevate your meals with their tangy and briny flavor.

In this article, you will find various recipes that showcase the versatility of capers. You will learn how to incorporate them into your favorite dishes, whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out. Enjoy experimenting with these delightful little ingredients that can make a big difference in your cooking.

1) Lemon Caper Pasta

Lemon Caper Pasta is a quick and tasty dish perfect for any meal. It combines the bright flavors of lemon and capers with garlic and olive oil. You can make it in just 30 minutes.

Start by cooking your choice of pasta. Angel hair pasta works well for this recipe.

While the pasta cooks, sauté garlic and capers in olive oil until fragrant.

Next, mix in fresh lemon juice and zest. Once your pasta is ready, toss it with the lemon caper sauce. This dish pairs well with grilled chicken or fish.

Ingredients

• 8 oz. angel hair pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons capers
• Juice and zest of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add garlic and capers, cooking for 30 seconds.
4. Stir in lemon juice and zest.
5. Toss the cooked pasta in the skillet.
6. Season with salt and pepper, then serve warm.

2) Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata is a delicious Italian dish that features chicken breasts cooked in a tangy lemon butter sauce. It is easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

The key ingredients are capers, which add a unique flavor. Fresh lemon juice enhances the sauce, making it bright and zesty. You will love how quick this meal comes together.

To serve, you can add it over pasta or alongside a fresh salad. Chicken Piccata is sure to impress your family and friends with its rich taste.

Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons capers
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness.
2. Season with salt and pepper, then coat in flour.
3. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat (350°F or 175°C).
4. Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.
5. Remove chicken and add lemon juice and capers to the pan.
6. Simmer for a couple of minutes, then pour the sauce over the chicken.
7. Garnish with parsley before serving.

3) Pasta with Garlic Butter Caper Sauce

Pasta with Garlic Butter Caper Sauce is a quick and delicious dish. You can make it in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The garlic and capers create a flavorful sauce that pairs well with different types of pasta.

To make this dish, you will need butter to create a rich base. The capers add a nice salty touch. You can also add a protein, like grilled chicken or shrimp, to make it a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces pasta of your choice
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Stir in the capers and season with salt and pepper.
5. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well.
6. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

4) Tuna Salad with Capers and Sautéed Mushrooms

This tuna salad is tasty and simple to make. You combine canned tuna with capers and sautéed mushrooms for extra flavor.

Start by cooking the mushrooms in a pan until they are soft.

Mix the cooked mushrooms with flaked tuna, capers, diced tomatoes, and red onion.

Drizzle some olive oil and lemon juice for freshness. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve your salad on a bed of greens or in a sandwich.

Ingredients

• 1 can tuna
• 2 tablespoons capers
• 1 cup mushrooms, sautéed
• ½ cup diced tomatoes
• ¼ cup red onion, chopped
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Sauté mushrooms in a pan until soft.
2. In a bowl, combine tuna, mushrooms, capers, tomatoes, and onion.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve on greens or as a sandwich.

5) Spaghetti with Tuna and Capers

Spaghetti with tuna and capers is a simple and tasty dish. It combines pantry staples to create a quick meal for busy nights. You will enjoy the saltiness of the capers mixed with the flavor of tuna.

To prepare this dish, cook your spaghetti in salted water until it’s al dente.

In a pan, heat some olive oil and add minced garlic. Once the garlic is fragrant, add drained canned tuna and capers.

Mix the cooked spaghetti into the pan. Toss everything together until well combined. Finish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for added flavor.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces spaghetti
• 10 ounces canned tuna (drained)
• 2 tablespoons capers (rinsed)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• Fresh parsley (for garnish)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil salted water and cook spaghetti according to package instructions.
2. In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
3. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
4. Stir in drained tuna and rinsed capers.
5. Combine spaghetti with the mixture.
6. Toss well and season with salt and pepper.
7. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

6) Chicken Breast Cutlets with Artichokes and Capers

This dish features tender chicken cutlets cooked to a golden brown. The artichokes and capers add a zesty flavor that makes each bite delightful.

To start, you can prepare your cutlets by lightly seasoning them. Then, cook them until they’re crispy on the outside.

Next, create a sauce using lemon juice, artichokes, and capers. This sauce brings out the bright flavors that complement the chicken nicely.

Serve your chicken cutlets with the artichoke and caper sauce drizzled on top. It’s a simple yet impressive meal that’s perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

• Chicken breasts
• Flour
• Olive oil
• Artichoke hearts
• Capers
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
2. Dredge the chicken in flour.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat (350°F or 180°C).
4. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
5. Remove chicken and add artichokes, capers, and lemon juice to the pan.
6. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then return chicken to the skillet.
7. Serve hot, topped with the sauce.

7) New Potatoes with Caper Sauce

New potatoes with caper sauce make a tasty side dish. The bright flavor of capers pairs well with tender potatoes. This recipe is quick and easy to prepare.

To start, you’ll want to cook the new potatoes until they’re fork-tender. You can boil them in salted water for about 15-20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let them cool slightly.

Next, prepare the caper sauce. Combine olive oil, butter, lemon juice, and drained capers in a small bowl. Mix well to combine all the flavors.

Finally, drizzle the caper sauce over the warm potatoes. Toss gently to coat everything. Serve immediately and enjoy the bright flavors!

Ingredients

• 500g new potatoes
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp capers, drained and rinsed
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil the new potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes until tender.
2. Drain and slightly cool the potatoes.
3. In a bowl, mix olive oil, butter, lemon juice, and capers.
4. Drizzle the sauce over the potatoes.
5. Toss gently and serve warm.

8) One-Pot Pantry Orzo with Capers

This simple recipe combines orzo with capers for a tasty meal. You will enjoy the burst of flavor from the capers, along with the comfort of the pasta.

Start by heating olive oil in a pot. Add chopped garlic and sauté until fragrant. Then, add the orzo and toast it lightly for a few minutes.

Next, pour in chicken or vegetable broth and bring it to a boil. Stir in the capers and any other vegetables you like. Cook until the orzo is tender and has absorbed the liquid.

Serve it warm and enjoy a delightful, quick dinner!

Ingredients

• 1 cup orzo pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup capers, rinsed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
3. Add orzo and toast for about 3 minutes.
4. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil.
5. Stir in capers and season with salt and pepper.
6. Cook until orzo is tender, about 10-12 minutes.
7. Serve warm.

9) Lemon Caper Butter Sauce for Fish

Lemon caper butter sauce is a bright and flavorful addition to any fish dish. It’s quick to make and enhances the freshness of your meals.

To start, melt some butter in a skillet over low heat. Add lemon juice and capers, stirring gently to combine. The sauce will be rich and tangy, perfect for drizzling over your favorite fish.

This simple sauce goes well with many types of fish, making it a versatile recipe. You can also add fresh herbs for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon capers
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 2 lemons, juiced

Cooking Instructions

1. Melt the butter in a small skillet over low heat.
2. Stir in lemon juice and capers; mix well.
3. Season with salt and black pepper.
4. Spoon the sauce over cooked fish before serving.

10) Lemony Leek Soup with Capers

Lemony leek soup with capers is a bright and refreshing dish. The leeks add a gentle sweetness, while the capers provide a tangy punch. This soup is perfect for a light lunch or a cozy dinner.

To start, you will need leeks, capers, vegetable broth, and fresh lemon juice. The combination of flavors makes this soup delightful and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.

2. Add the sliced leeks and sauté until they become soft, about 5 minutes.

3. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring it to a boil.

4. Then, reduce the heat and stir in the lemon juice and capers.

5. Simmer for 10 minutes, and season with salt and pepper before serving.