The Capers plant belongs to the family of daisies. As mentioned before, this vegetable is native to southern Europe and in parts of Eastern Asia. When the climate suitable for growing pepper is not present, the plant switches to another variety of plant commonly known as a wild root. One interesting fact about this plant is that it is even edible. Although it is a member of the mustard family, capsicum does not contain any taste by itself. It has a sweet taste when consumed as an ingredient of food.
Capsicum or just capsicum as we normally refer to it is found in different parts of the world. In the Mediterranean region, you will find it growing in Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Growing this vine in a humid climate is quite easy especially if you have a piece of land with milder climate conditions. However, you will not be able to grow it outside in your backyard as it requires much more space.
Capers are usually cultivated as a vegetable in spring but some varieties can also be grown as a crop for pickling. During summer, the fruit begins to ripen and this is when you can start to prepare meals using its peel. Pickles are very popular in the Mediterranean region because of its health benefits especially for those who do not consume too much sugar or processed foods. You can prepare pickles using cucumbers, onions, celery, carrots, parsley or even green beans. A nice recipe of pickled cucumber with olive oil is always a hit with friends and family.
To cook up a nice dish of pickles, all you need are washed vegetables, washed with cold water, chopped pieces of lemon, olive oil and seasonings like oregano, salt, lemon juice and white wine. You can use a vegetable rack to cut the vegetables into small pieces. Alternatively, you can cook the vegetables in the olive oil directly on the rack.
Other options include using olive oil as a sauce with the grape tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini and eggplant. You can also make a delicious tomato paste with garlic, olive oil, chopped tomatoes, cumin, black pepper, Cayenne pepper and salt. Cook the eggplant and peppers together, add the zucchini and let cook on stovetop until they are softened.
When the vegetables are completely cooked, add the vinegar and turn on the oven to preheat. Fill a pot with warm water and put in the chopped tomatoes, white wine and salt or oregano and let boil for around 20 minutes until the liquid is evaporated. Now, remove the pot from the heat and rinse the remaining liquid. Add the vinegar to the tomato sauce and cook for around 5 minutes until the vinegar reduces in its volume. Then, serve and enjoy.
You may find that the flavor of your homemade tomato sauce with olives and garlic is too strong for some people. To adjust it, you can add in some apple cider vinegar instead. Just increase the vinegar’s volume slightly and cook it along with the ingredients listed above. This makes a delicious accompaniment to many dishes and it adds a wonderful tang to the olive taste.
There are various other ways to season your tomatoes, including using fresh herbs like Rosemary, thyme, oregano, savory and bay laurel, as well as using a variety of available seasonings, salt and pepper. You can also season using a variety of spices including ginger, garlic powder, allspice, turmeric, and Chiles. Alternatively, you can buy a bottle of cracker or whole pepper grinder and grind your own herbs and spices. Alternatively, you can use dried, ground spices.