Substitute for Capers
What it does in a recipe: Briny flower buds: piccata, tartare, and pasta puttanesca.
3 substitutes, ranked by what's already in your pantry. Amounts are dataset values — US and metric where a ratio exists.
Chopped green olives
per 1 Tbsp capers
US1 Tbsp, chopped
Metric9 g, chopped
Pantry stapleBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeFish-freeGluten-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-freeSoy-freeVegan
Same briny bite; bigger pieces — chop fine.
What changes: Less floral
Finely chopped dill pickles
per 1 Tbsp capers
US1 Tbsp
Metric9 g
CommonBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeFish-freeGluten-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-freeSoy-freeVegan
Sour and crunchy.
What changes: Sweeter, dill-forward
Green peppercorns, mashed
per 1 Tbsp capers
US1 Tbsp
Metric9 g
SpecialtyBaking-safe ✓Alcohol-freeDairy-freeEgg-freeFish-freeGluten-freeNut-freePeanut-freeShellfish-freeSoy-freeVegan
Peppery rather than briny.
What changes: Peppery
Related swaps
Common questions
- What can I use instead of Capers?
- Chopped green olives: 1 Tbsp, chopped. Finely chopped dill pickles: 1 Tbsp.
- What is the exact ratio to substitute Capers?
- Chopped green olives (per 1 Tbsp capers) — US: 1 Tbsp, chopped. Metric: 9 g, chopped.
- What changes when you substitute Capers?
- Less floral. Sweeter, dill-forward.
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