I love caperberries – salty, briny, salty goodness. Larger than the caper and a completely different thing, the caperberry is the fruit of the caper plant and is about the size of an olive, while a caper is the smaller flower bud. They taste similar, and I find the caperberry is milder in flavor.
Awesome salty flavor.
When Heather picked caperberries for C Week of Meatless Monday A to Z, I was thrilled. I actually already had two jars of caperberries in my pantry, along with at least three jars of capers. I always have capers.
We had some friends over for a Happy Hour at Home, Caperberry Style. They were greeted with a caperberry martini, made dirty with the brine juice. So very good.
For a fun one bite appetizer with some tang, I stuffed caperberries with my vegan goat cheese.
They were easy to pick up by their stem handles. An easy last minute prep that looks elegant and tastes crazy good. Especially when you drench them in agave…
The third item for this caperberry cocktail party was a hummus – a lemony, garlicy, salty hummus. We served this with crunchy crisps and vegetables.
caperberry hummus
dairy, soy and gluten free, vegan
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and peeled
3 tablespoons tahini
juice of 2 lemons
1 clove garlic, peeled
handful (8-10) caperberries, stemmed
sea salt, to taste
olive oil, for garnish
2-3 whole caperberries, for garnish
In food processor, purée chickpeas until crumbly-smooth, add tahini, lemon juice, garlic and caperberries. Salt as needed. Blend until smooth. Transfer to serving bowl, pour 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over top, garnish with whole caperberries.
This has been my favorite week with #mmaz yet! Are you a caperberry or caper fan?
Here’s one of my favorite recipes using the smaller, stronger, saltier caper:
Cheers – happy Monday!
tommy says
I’ll take that martini, please. It’s 5 um, PM somewhere, right? 😉
spabettie says
always, my dear… always!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That hummus look great… but pass me a martini, please. 😉
spabettie says
yep, atta girl! cheers!
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
I love capers but have never tried a caperberry. The stuffed caperberries look fantastic. And I need to try that enchilada recipe. So many recipes!
spabettie says
yes you need the enchiladas – we love them! 🙂
Allie says
I had no idea what to do with mine at first–so I read the label and the first suggestion was “cocktails.” I was going to go buy a bottle of vodka and stop right there, haha. Love that we both went for the caperberry + goat cheese combo! (Don’t really know what went wrong, though, because my goat cheese did not work 🙁 ). Anyway, happy MMAZ–and now I totally want a bowl of that hummus with some good veggie sticks.
spabettie says
leave it to me to go straight to the cocktails 😉
Edie says
I love the martini, can’t wait to try one this way. did I read correctly, vegan goat cheese? need to see this now!
spabettie says
you will love the martini, Edie! so good!
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
that hummus looks amazing! so creamy and fabulous!
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
You have outdone yourself – look at all these uses for caperberries!! I’m jealous you already had jars available in your pantry – now I really need to find some, so I can try these out. Especially love the stuffed caperberries. 🙂
spabettie says
the stuffed caperberries were the best… we all loved them just as is, then someone had the brilliant idea of agave… 😉
Linda Mercury says
Mmmmmm!
spabettie says
we will have you over soon… and we will have THESE 😀
[email protected] says
Incredible Kris. Stuffing caperberries must have taken forever!!!!!!
spabettie says
…but so worth it 😉
Western Garden Mama says
I have never tried a caperberry, but those stuffed look good and fun! Thanks for giving me another use for the goat cheese!
spabettie says
they are similar to a caper, milder I think. so happy you are liking the goat cheese!
dorry says
delicious! I love caperberries – they remind me of Villa d’Este in Italy – the hotel where I snagged you the beautiful blue bathroom items! 🙂
they had caperberries on the smoked salmon platter every morning and I ate a million of them.
spabettie says
aww, yes, that lovely bath collection 🙂 I remember your photos of those morning salmon arrangements – perfection!
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Love the idea of a new type of ‘dirty’ martini but what really intrigues me is the one drenched in agave. Salty, creamy, sweet…LOVE things like that. Such fun.
spabettie says
yes, Barbara, that stuffed caperberry was my favorite! I love the sweet salty tangy thing too…
Brenda says
I consider myself well versed in exotic foods, but I have no idea where to buy caperberries. Any suggestions?
spabettie says
hi Brenda! I found these in our local store (kind of like a whole foods) in the condiment aisle, with the jars of capers, olives, tapenade, all that. I think I have seen them in even “mainstream” grocery stores, but if you have a “gourmet” store in your area, check there? I hope you find them!
Natasha says
You have been officially elevated to Goddess status in my books…DIRTY MARTINI?! Yessssssssssssa! Vodka I hope?
Delish – deeeeeelis….love the caperberry! Hope your well girl..and Pops too 🙂 Tres busy getting ready for school and..!!! – workin’ on the blogsite….wordpress here I come 🙂
Hugs and miss you! Smooch for Basil
spabettie says
of course with vodka, my darling! these were GOOOOOOD too.
I cannot wait to see your website, weeee! and hear more about school, good for you, sweetie! oh gosh I miss you!! big hugs back to you and all your furries XXO
Kath (My Funny Little Life) says
That’s a nice alternatives to olives! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to like capers or olives so far, but I really tried! 😛
spabettie says
and that is all you can do 🙂 I admire you always trying!
Scott says
I have been doing Caperberry Martinis for years now, glad to see someone else doing it! It is a perfect match!!!
spabettie says
well, you have good taste, Scott! 🙂 these were delicious!
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
How did I not think of caperberry hummus?!?!
I love the little goat cheese stuffed (and agave drenched!) caperberry pops. Perhaps that’s what shall happen with the leftover ‘berries’ in my fridge? [Although, it would probably just be a happy hour for one.]
spabettie says
yes, you need to at least stuff a few of those babies, I cannot stop thinking about them! 🙂
Lindsay says
What a great idea! My husband loves caperberries he would love these especially the martini
spabettie says
thanks, Lindsay – the martini was delicious – and I am STILL thinking about those stuffed caperberries, oh my!