Capers are the pickled buds of the caper plant. They have a dark olive green color, are round shaped and measure from 5mm up to 14mm in diameter.
Capers are picked and pickled in
vinegar and
salt, and sold in glass jars. They are classified by their size, into the following categories (the smaller, the most popular):
Non-pareil (0-7 mm),
surfines (7-8 mm),
capucines (8-9 mm),
capotes (9-11 mm),
fines (11-13
mm), and
grusas (14+ mm).
Capers are widely used in the
Mediterannean cuisine, mostly in sauces or salads. The
Italian spagetti puttanesca recipe uses capers as a main ingredient for the sauce.