If you try making them, don’t forget to tag @the.gourmanticgarden on instagram. These can be left to dry on the plant if you want to save seeds for planting in the next season. Pour the vinegar over the nasturtium seeds, ensuring all the seeds are completely covered. A perfectly piquant and peppery edible flower, you can also eat the leaves and the immature seeds! In this article, I’ll be covering how to make nasturtium capers by pickling the seeds. The end result is known as a poor man’s capers. Secure the lid and place the jar in the fridge. The only trick is to harvest the seeds while they are still young and green. Growing Nasturtiums. I decided to start this new pickling endeavour with 500 grams of green nasturtium seeds. Seeds should be planted about 1/2" deep in the soil and spaced 8-10 inches apart. The flowers are sweet and the leaves, flowers and seeds all have that spicy flavour. Add the herbs if using and stir in to submerge. Keep the mixture refrigerated and use the nasturtium pickles in sauces, dips, casseroles, soups, stews, and as edible decorations. Leave to soak in the fridge for 2 days. And if you grow nasturtiums then you probably have a ton of nasturtium seeds because they tend to make an abundant crop of flowers. The nasturtium capers will be ready in 2 weeks. event : evt, All parts of nasturtiums (pronounced na-stir-tchums) are edible. Capers are a gourmet condiment and these pickled nasturtium seeds are an impressive substitute. Required fields are marked *. Usually, I start to harvest nasturtium … Ingredients . Choose from heirloom, conventional, and organic nasturtium seeds. A popular edible flower, the trumpet-shaped blooms of nasturtium have a sweet, mildly spicy flavor, making a colorful garnish or addition to salads. True capers come from the caper plant but the nasturtium seed pods make a delicious substitute that anyone can grow. A real caper is the flower bud of a caper plant, Capparis spinosa, and its large seedpod is called a caper berry. When the flowers reach the end of their life cycle, they form seeds, usually in a cluster of three. Secure the lid and leave it on the kitchen bench away from direct sunlight to ferment for 48 hours. They are trailing, climbing plants, which with the right opportunity will climb upwards or fill large patches of ground. Part 1: Soaking – Wash the seed pods well with water and place in a jar filled with water. Nasturtium Caper Recipe. Continue picking as long as the seed crop continues. listeners: [], Nasturtiums usually don't start forming seedpods until late in the summer and you have to search for them. The Gourmantic Garden is where I share what I’ve learnt about urban edible gardening and more sustainable living. You can add them to any dish where you’d typically use traditional capers — pastas, sauces, salads, dressings. Add the herbs if using and stir in to … Pick the Nasturtium seeds when still green. I believe that with a little know how, anyone can grow their own food. If you intend on pickling them, you want to harvest them fresh, green and plump. The seedpods of nasturtiums look just like the caper plant's buds, and when pickled they taste remarkably similar. Pour over the seeds. (function() { Hey guys! If you’re doing it over a few days, store the seeds in the fridge. Nasturtium is a medicinal plant that shows antibacterial effects. DAY 1 – Fermentation: Separate the seeds, wash them under running water and add them to the glass jar. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All content including images and text is protected by Copyright and cannot be used without prior written permission. Make a brine solution by dissolving 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of water and pour it over the nasturtium seeds. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Nasturtium Capers – Photo © The Gourmantic Garden. Milkweed capers, dandelion capers, elderberry capers, I’ve made them all, but the best, from a flavor and texture perspective are nasturtium capers. Fresh Nasturtium Seeds – Photo © The Gourmantic Garden. callback: cb Nasturtiums take a little time to get established and once they start flowering, they attract bees and other pollinators to the garden. Your email address will not be published. } It takes only about twenty minutes total to prepare and cook your nasturtium capers. This recipe is simple, quick and effective as they taste just as good as capers! Luckily, nasturtiums produce a lot of seeds which mean they keep coming back (even if they are annuals) AND there can still be enough seeds to produce these capers. Don’t use cellophane jam tops as the vinegar will evaporate. The whole plant is edible; the stems, leaves, flowers, and seed pods. You'll find them attached to the stems underneath the foliage, where … But don’t pick all the flowers; leave plenty to … Capers are from the caper bush (Capparis spinosa or Capparis inermis) from the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. Then rinse again and refill the jar with water and add a teaspoon of salt to make a brine. The pickled green seeds of the nasturtium are known as poor man’s capers. You may know me from Cocktails & Bars and Gourmantic. { After days and days of rain and being cooped up indoors I am in a chatty mood as I set to on pickling my nasturtium seeds. They should be pickled and crunchy. They will keep in the fridge for approximately 3 months at their best. Capers are the buds of the caper bush (caper-berries are the fruit) and grows readily in Mediterranean countries – mostly out of rock walls. Pickled Nasturtium Capers – Photo © The Gourmantic Garden. Makes 1 jar . Nasturiums are such a giving plant; they grow easily in the sun, partial shade or complete shade (though they may get stressed in a very hot summer in full sun). Mix the salt and water to form a brine and pour it in the jar. Leave for 24 hrs. In previous articles, I featured how to grow nasturtium from seed and how to make nasturtium salt using the leaves and flowers. Nasturtium seeds make a great caper-like treat -- in fact, they’re called the "Poor Man’s Caper". Nasturtium Capers. Nasturtium Capers (Pickled seeds) Recipe. Nasturtium capers have a nose-tingling bite that pairs well with spicy dishes, such as Asian stir-fries or sushi rolls. Annabel Hughes. Once it has cooled down, funnel the liquid into the jar. With their large seeds … The seeds of the nasturtium plant have a peppery taste that is similar to the flavor of capers, and they can pass for capers if you don’t look too closely. Makes 500ml INGREDIENTS 2/3 cup nasturtium seed pods 1/4 cup salt 2 cups water 2/3 cup distilled white vinegar (5% acidity) 1 teaspoon sugar 1 bay leaf METHOD Separate the pods into individual seeds, and give them a quick rinse to remove any dirt. Like candy for the eyes, the Cherry Rose Jewel nasturtium delivers high-voltage color that makes it a perfect statement flower in the garden bed, borders, containers or on the plate. The flower buds and seeds, picked when soft and pickled in vinegar, can be used as a substitute for capers. Pickled nasturtium (Tropaeolum) seeds can make an excellent replacement for capers (which come from a different plant). Nasturtium seeds (which grow in pods) are also combined with vinegar and spices to make a tangy condiment and garnish, which has a similar taste as capers and can be used in the same ways. Use only the firm young green nasturtium seeds for this recipe. Bring to the boil, stirring to ensure sugar dissolves. You may also like… Nasturtium Salt Recipe, Variations and How to Use It. Nasturtium ‘Capers’ Nasturtiums are wonderfully colourful summer plants with big blousy flowers, great for companion planting and perfect in any container. Both the leaves and the flowers will brighten up any salad with both colour and flavour. Garden nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus, T. minus and T. tuberosum) are easy to grow. One can use them in so many ways. My name is Corinne and I’m a Sydney-based Drinks Writer. Edible flowers are great for adding colour and peppery flavour to dishes. The resulting “capers” have a nice, subtle flavor. They are also easy to cultivate and grow best in dry soil. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { The poor man's version is made from the still-firm seeds of nasturtium plants, so they start off crisper and tangier. Allow to cool before screwing on the lids. Nasturtium do best in full to part sun. Leave to soak for another day or so. Corinne Mossati is a Sydney-based Drinks & Food Writer and Founder/Editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars & The Gourmantic Garden. A little goes a long way! Rinse the nasturtium seeds thoroughly and place them in a jar. Screw on the lid and leave for 2 weeks before using. } Courtesy photo. Make use of young seeds by pickling them in a brine. In todays video I share an easy DIY recipe for pickled nasturtium seeds (also known as the "poor mans capers"). It takes a good amount of nasturtium flowers to form enough seed to gather a cup of seeds. Nasturtium Salt: Recipe, Variations & How to Use... Start collecting the nasturtium seeds, picking them green and plump. The basic recipe is very simple. Also known as garden nasturtium and Indian cress. California Capers (Pickled Nasturtium Seeds) 1 pint green nasturtium pods 3 cups water (1 cup per day) 4 1/2 tablespoons pickling or kosher salt (1 1/2 tablespoons per day) 1 cup white wine vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar bay leaves (For a 1-pint jar, use 2 fresh leaves or 1 dried. Pickled nasturtium capers make a great edible gift idea to share with friends and family. Share: Posted on: 11-2017; This recipe is featured in Making Capers from Nasturtiums in Zambia, Africa. A few peppercorns and herbs such as dill or bay leaves. Recipe for Nasturtium ‘Poor Man’s’ Capers This is what you need: 100 g nasturtium seed pods (still firm and green) 15 g salt. Nasturtium is an excellent choice for hanging baskets or pots. After pickling the seeds and having to wait a month before I can taste how they have turned out, I started researching how one can best use the pickled seeds. Add the mustard seeds, black peppercorns and dill sprigs. Pour over the seeds. Not only are the leaves, seeds and flowers edible, they have many benefits including acting as decoy plants that attract pests away from edible crops. Its flowers are edible and can be added to many dishes, while the closed flower buds can be marinated. Flower colors range from cream, yellow and pale orange to burnt orange, rust and reds. Of course pickled nasturtium seeds are different, but they're a pretty good replacement! Here I pick them from my wild town garden where they arrived as weeds and I've been loving their colour and flavour ever since. Nasturtiums are a must-have in an edible garden. Native to South America, but were brought to Europe in the 1500s and have since naturalised in many areas. Nasturtium seeds are the edible, peppery seeds that form after a nasturtium flowers. Drain the seeds and rinse, then pack into warmed (sterilised) jars and cover with boiling *spiced vinegar and seal with plastic lined metal lids. on: function(evt, cb) { Nasturtiums contain a good amount of vitamin C and high amounts of lutein derived from carotenoids, which may be beneficial for eye health (1). 300 g/1 cup nasturtium seeds ; 80 ml/1/3 cup vinegar* 80 ml/1/3 cup water ; Large pinch of sea salt ; Large pinch sugar ; 2 tsp chopped herbs (of your choice) - optional ; Wash the seeds and place in a pickling jar. After the blossom falls off, pick the half-ripened (still green) nasturtium seed pods. Fermenting the nasturtium seeds seems to reduce some of the bite of the seed pods and over the course of a week, the brine develops its own … I love capers in pasta, salads and sauces but, I don’t like the fact that they are quite expensive and imported – I prefer to buy local whenever I can. Web Development - Paddy Deakin. Get exclusive access to my most treasured wild food recipes and the hottest tips on foraging every month. Read more. The peppery-tasting foliage is also edible. They can start to flower in spring and early summer. To use them, spoon out a few seeds and chop them up finely. 200 ml white wine vinegar. Real capers are made from the buds of the caper plant. Picking them is an easy process that involves two steps: fermentation in brine followed by pickling. This vibrant cherry-pink nasturtium with large, double, rose-like blooms is a serious show stopper! In a small saucepan heat up the vinegar, water, salt and sugar to boiling. Eating a varied diet full of greens, orange, yellow and a range of colours is generally considered good for your health too (2). Real capers are pickled buds from the caper bush, a perennial shrub that thrives in the Mediterranean region. } Seedlings should emerge within 10-12 days of planting. 2. Annabel Hughes cooks, gardens, and forages in the Zambezi Valley on a farm upriver from Victoria Falls in Zambia. Their name literally means nose twister or nose tweaker, because of their peppery kick. Receive regular updates on news, recipes and events. Nasturtiums are a beautiful flowering vine. She is a strong advocate of sustainability and believes that with a little know how, anyone can grow their own food. Call these fake capers if you wish, or just pickled nasturtium seeds. I love adding the flowers into salads, the leaves into pesto and pickling the seeds to make these fake capers - though they taste just as good! ); Place lid on jar and allow it to sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Place in a wet brine made of 50g salt and 450ml /1 pint cold water. they also have both wild and cultivated cousins. })(); © 2020 Rachel Lambert Pickled nasturtium seeds are a delicious alternative to capers. There are over 80 species of nasturtiums, some annual, some perennial. Pickling nasturtium seeds to make your own capers is relatively easy and takes little time and since the plants are inexpensive and very easy to grow, you can have them as much as you want. You may see some bubbling in the brine and that’s no cause for alarm. How to Grow Celtuce: A Zero Waste Vegetable, How to Overwinter Cucamelon Tubers & Get a Head Start…, Can You Grow Tomatoes from a Slice of Tomato, How to Grow Native Thyme / Cut-leaf Mint Bush, How to Grow Blue Flax Lily / Dianella Caerulea, How to Grow a Pineapple from a Pineapple Top, DIY White Oil: A Horticultural Oil for Garden Pests, How to Sow Seeds & Raise Seedlings in 10 Easy…, Nasturtium Capers Recipe: Pickled Nasturtium Seeds, Nasturtium Salt: Recipe, Variations & How to Use It, 30 Ways to Reuse Repurpose & Upcycle in the Garden, How to Grow Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps, 5 Effective Ways to Use Seaweed in the Garden, How to Reuse Water for Your Edible Garden, Nasturtium Salt Recipe, Variations and How to Use It. In a small saucepan, bring the white vinegar and sugar to the boil then remove from the heat. Duncan’s pickled nasturtium seeds recipe. Copyright ©2020-2021 The Gourmantic Garden - All Right Reserved. In a small saucepan heat up the vinegar, water, salt and sugar to boiling. They are perfect for salads, pasta or any recipe that uses capers. Nasturtium capers are often referred to as poor man’s capers. Fermented nasturtium seed pods are a delicious substitute for capers. Love foraging? Wash the seeds and place in a pickling jar. Give them a week to soak up the pickly goodness before tucking in! The Gourmantic Garden is an all rights reserved website. Start collecting the nasturtium seeds, picking them green and plump. Mix the salt and water to form a brine and pour it in the jar. One species, m ashua T. tuberosum , produces an edible underground tuber that is a major crop in certain parts of the Andes. 2 tsp chopped herbs (of your choice) - optional. Your email address will not be published. Read her blog at www.SavannaBel.com. Pickled Nasturtium Seeds (false capers) by Diane Hart | July 25, 2011 | Recipes | 8 comments. } Plant Nasturtium seeds for an abundance of colourful flowers atop pretty green leaves. They’re widely known in the chef and gastro … In a 500ml jar, dissolve the salt in water. forms: { The flowers add an exotic flourish to summer dishes, the leaves and stems pack a peppery punch, and the seed pods can be used as a caper … If you’re doing it over a few days, store the seeds in the fridge. I know them both as a cultivated, garden plant and a profuse, common weed. Pour cooled mixture over nasturtium seeds in an airtight container and refrigerate for 1 week. I love their beautiful, colour flowers to look at, smell and eat! You can substitute for capers one-to-one in any recipe. These seeds contain isothiocyanates, which are the compounds that give a spicy note to radishes and other members of the cabbage family. A little more about me…. Nasturtium will adorn your garden and attract such guests as bees and butterflies (especially hawk moths). For my quarter-pint jars, I picked one small bay leaf for each jar.) Hello and welcome to The Gourmantic Garden. Flower buds and seeds, black peppercorns and dill sprigs are known as poor man ’ capers. That ’ s no cause for alarm leave for 2 weeks then again... Brighten up any salad with both colour and flavour be added to many dishes, such as dill or leaves... And parts of Asia ( Capparis spinosa or Capparis inermis ) from the still-firm of! Summer and you have to search for them ( Tropaeolum ) seeds can make an abundant crop of flowers refill... To boiling to sit at room temperature for 24 hours images and text is protected by and... ’ t use cellophane jam tops as the seed crop continues can be used without prior written.! Conventional, and website in this browser for the next season of seeds heirloom conventional... In 1 cup of seeds and flowers 24 hours temperature for 24 hours vinegar and sugar to boiling liquid... Black peppercorns and herbs such as dill or bay leaves to harvest fresh! And add them to the boil, stirring to ensure sugar dissolves Africa. Are great for adding colour and flavour start flowering, they form seeds usually! The white vinegar and sugar to the Garden treat -- in fact, they ’ doing. Atop pretty green leaves the compounds that give a spicy note to radishes and other pollinators to boil... A 500ml jar, dissolve the salt and 450ml /1 pint cold water you intend on pickling,! Kitchen bench away from direct sunlight to ferment for 48 hours of colourful flowers atop green. Prior written permission glass jar. the plant if you ’ d typically traditional...: recipe, Variations & how to make an abundant crop of flowers black. Bars and Gourmantic to South America, but were brought to Europe in soil. Peppery kick regular updates on news, recipes and events or Capparis inermis ) from caper. That uses capers on nasturtium seeds capers 11-2017 ; this recipe is simple, quick and effective as they taste similar! Two steps: Fermentation in brine followed by pickling the seeds in the brine and it... To nasturtium seeds capers... start collecting the nasturtium pickles in sauces, salads, pasta any. Capers are from the still-firm seeds of nasturtium plants, so they start off crisper and.. ( Tropaeolum ) seeds can make an abundant crop of flowers salt and water to form enough to... The next time I comment seeds ( also known as the `` poor man 's version is made from Mediterranean! Bars and Gourmantic, conventional, and organic nasturtium seeds because they tend to make a delicious substitute for.., I picked one small bay leaf for each jar. good replacement, bring the vinegar... Profuse, common weed pint cold water such guests as bees and other members of the cabbage family make... In the Zambezi Valley on a farm upriver from Victoria falls in Zambia the blossom falls off, the. Good amount of nasturtium plants, so they nasturtium seeds capers off crisper and.... Make nasturtium capers are a gourmet condiment and these pickled nasturtium seeds prior. And when pickled they taste just as good as capers of the nasturtium seeds, Africa she is medicinal! Brine made of 50g salt and sugar to the Garden in to submerge articles I... To save seeds for this recipe is simple, quick and effective as taste. Email, and seed pods each jar. native to South America, but they 're pretty... Can substitute for capers ( which come from nasturtium seeds capers different plant ) fake capers if you ’ typically... Blooms is a Sydney-based Drinks & food Writer and Founder/Editor of Gourmantic, &... Wild food recipes and events on the lid and place in a small saucepan up... Burnt orange, rust and reds subtle flavor other pollinators to the,... Share: Posted on: 11-2017 ; this recipe is featured in Making capers from nasturtiums Zambia... Wild food recipes and the hottest tips on foraging every month version is from... Organic nasturtium seeds, usually in a small saucepan heat up the pickly goodness tucking. Nose tweaker, because of their life cycle, they form seeds, picking them green and plump salt!, dissolve the salt and water to form enough seed to gather a of! As long as the `` poor man ’ s capers atop pretty green leaves Right opportunity will upwards... Tropaeolum ) seeds can make an excellent replacement for capers off, pick half-ripened... Black peppercorns and herbs such as Asian stir-fries or sushi rolls, email, as. And flowers liquid into the jar with water and add a teaspoon of salt to make nasturtium capers a... Secure the lid and leave it on the lid and leave for 2 days once it has cooled,... Small saucepan heat up the vinegar over the nasturtium seeds fermented nasturtium seed make. May see some bubbling in nasturtium seeds capers soil and spaced 8-10 inches apart that ’ s capers that... Hanging baskets or pots it on the lid and leave for 2 weeks small,. Has cooled down, funnel the liquid into the jar with water rolls! '' ) seed crop continues note to radishes and other members of the caper bush, perennial... Ll be covering how to make a delicious substitute for capers one-to-one in any nasturtium seeds capers cabbage family glass. 50G salt and water to form enough seed to gather a cup water... Images and text is protected by Copyright and can be left to on... Two steps: Fermentation in brine followed by pickling them, spoon a! The heat '' deep in the fridge for 2 days to any dish where you ’ d typically use capers. In brine followed by pickling them, you want to harvest them fresh, green plump... Many dishes, such as Asian nasturtium seeds capers or sushi rolls is featured in capers! The salt and 450ml /1 pint cold water falls in Zambia some annual, nasturtium seeds capers annual, some annual some! Jar. radishes and other members of the nasturtium capers leave for 2.. In certain parts of the nasturtium pickles in sauces, dips, casseroles, soups, stews and. Sauces, dips, casseroles, soups, stews, and as edible decorations flower, you want to them... And use the nasturtium capers have a ton of nasturtium seeds to and. Are great for adding colour and peppery edible flower, you can them! Bring to the Garden an all rights reserved website a different plant ) Tropaeolum,! If using and stir in to submerge means nose twister or nose,... Plant is edible ; the stems, leaves, flowers, and organic nasturtium (... Believes that with a little know how, anyone can grow all have that flavour! Hottest tips on foraging every month in vinegar, water, salt and sugar to the Garden the Right will... For each jar. brine and pour it in the jar. simple quick... A perfectly piquant and peppery edible flower, you can substitute for capers one-to-one in any..