This morning started as my Wednesday mornings of late normally do: alarm at 5.00am and a gym session from 5.45am.
I extended my normal "lower body" weights session just ever so slightly this morning, and boy can I feel it. During the Body Balance class afterwards my legs were shaking like crazy, resulting in some very uninspiring attempts at dancer's pose....
Well we have reached the end of the financial year which means one thing.....taxes ugh. It also means that my work decided to hold celebratory drinks when the clock hit 5.00pm.
Lucky for me, Mr BBB kindly offered to take up the Mystery Box challenge this evening so that we would have dinner on the table at a reasonable hour.
His chosen ingredient:
Capers!
Did you know? Capers are the unripened flower buds of Capparis spinosa, a prickly plant which is native to the Mediterranean and some parts of Asia. Not only do capers add a burst of salty flavour to your cooking, they have historically been used to treat inflammatory conditions. Fresh capers are low in fat and calories, but caution should be taken if you are on a low sodium diet as they are very high in sodium.
I came home after the work function to a warm house and an abundance of delightful smells coming from the kitchen.
Mr BBB advised me that on the menu this evening was baked salmon with lemon caper sauce. Served with roasted potatoes, carrots and broccoli.
Oh my goodness, this was AMAZING!
The lemon caper sauce was packed full of parsley. It was buttery, lemony, and the capers really did add little bursts of saltiness. The sauce worked beautifully with the oven baked salmon (which Mr BBB had cooked to perfection), and is definitely one that I would make again.
Doesn't food just always taste that extra bit wonderful when it is cooked for you? I must invite Mr BBB to take on the Mystery Box challenge more often!
Lemon Caper Sauce
- 2tsp capers, drained and rinsed
- 4 tbs butter
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 2tbs lemon juice
- 2tsp lemon zest
- 1tbs chopped parsley
- Melt butter in pan over medium heat.
- Add capers, garlic, juice and zest.
- Simmer for 30 seconds.
- Remove from heat and stir through parsley.
What about you? Do you like capers? What is your favourite way to use them?
Happy baking :)
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aww that looks perfect! Salmon, capers.... cook for me? :p
ReplyDeleteI love capers! That lemon caper sauce sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteCan mr BBB come cook that for me? Looks amazing and I never new that about capers. Your also full of great information. I love it. Happy wednesday!
ReplyDeleteI will take that whole meal without the capers please! I hate them ;)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like something you'd get at a restaurant!! I bet it was delicious :)
ReplyDeleteMy BigJ cooks dinner for the family every Wednesday night, and you're right it does taste better made by someone else! I love capers. They are zippy and zingy and add a quick hit of salty,soury yumminess. Have you tried the dry salted ones?
ReplyDeleteColes! The official supermarket of Masterchef ;) I adore capers, and my favourite use for them is in gremolata-style sauces for fish, like this, kinda :) I also used to eat them straight as a kid...
ReplyDeletewow, I just realized I've never cooked with capers- must change that!
ReplyDeleteI am definitely trying this recipe. I made salmon last night with panko and honey mustard and it was great. always looking for new recipes.
ReplyDeleteIts like capers & salmon are just made for each other! I've never made anything else with them, but I would love to try something new.
ReplyDeleteThat Mystery box is psychic. I am using capers tonight for the first time!
ReplyDeleteI recently read that rinsing capers before using takes something like 35% of the salt off them--good for more sodium-aware people! In my pre-allergy days I used to make a baked salmon ALSO with lemon caper sauce (but slightly different) that I took from epicurious.com... I miss it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Salmon-with-Roasted-Asparagus-and-Lemon-Caper-Sauce-104705
I also put capers on salads, and on bagels with lox. Well, again, I used to...
I really like capers. In fact I really like them with fish. Too bad I'm not a fan of salmon though.
ReplyDeleteThat looks delicious! I LOOOVE salmon. Grilled is my favorite but for some reason I can never quite get it right like they do when I order it out. have you ever grilled it before?
ReplyDeleteYummm! Looks like a perfect summer dish :D Thanks for your comment yesterday - it made me feel a little better : P
ReplyDeleteI like capers, especially when they're added to a marinara sauce, with olives too.
ReplyDeleteI've never experimented with capers. The only time I have them is in a restaurant...I would be at a loss for things to do with it!
ReplyDeleteawww what a sweet husband :) I think I'll always love chicken picata with capers.
ReplyDeleteMy mom made a "salsa verde" for salmon a few weeks back that was basically tons of fresh herbs, butter and capers. It was heavenly.
Well done Mr BBB a fine effort indeed.
ReplyDeleteI like ingredients like capers to add salt to a dish so that I don't have to actually use salt.
Yes! I do adore capers. I've never actually tried it before but one of the Masterchef recipes I tried called for it. And I found out that I adored them. So so yummy!
ReplyDeletei like deep fried capers :D
ReplyDeleteWow - what great ideas you have for using the little capers!!
ReplyDelete@ The InTolerant Chef - No i haven't tried the dried ones...come to think of it I don't think I have even seen them before?
@ Sunapeegirl - Mr BBB grilled these under the grill for around 5 minutes I think. The skin was perfectly crispy, and the salmon remained moist - so we will be relying on this method in future.
@ Shesgoingthedistace - oooh salas verde with capers? I am intrigued! I bet it was delish!
@chocolatesuze - oh my - I would never have thought of deep frying them!!!
I've never tried capers act - I had no idea if they were even animal or plant. I love salty seasonings though, so I may have to pick some up!
ReplyDeleteI'll get onto capers quick smart, this looks delicious
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of dish I would order in a restaurant! Yum. I love capers too!
ReplyDeleteI love baby capers with smoked salmon. Mmm they just go so well together with some creme fraiche or avocado! :D
ReplyDelete