For certain most of us heard about such product as capers, but only the few managed to open for themselves its valuable flavoring characteristics. There was in domestic cookery this product not so long ago, but the Mediterranean kitchen actively uses it as spicy addition to various dishes not one century. Therefore today we will try to acquaint our readers with this Mediterranean guest as it is possible more closely and also we will define with what capers in modern cookery are combined and what advantage they can bear for a human body.
Description
Such term as capers combines several values at once. Often understand quite peculiar foodstuff which is widely used in the European and Mediterranean kitchens as it, however the few know about how it grows from where occurs and what unique flavoring characteristics has. Further we will go deep into it in more detail.
As grow
According to the standard interpretation, understand a sort of perennial plants of the family of the same name which often are creeping prickly bushes, from 1 to 2 m high as the term capers. According to the latest scientific data, Kapersov' family includes 181 look among which both representatives of shrubby flora, and a liana and also long-term herbs occur.
Whether you know? Capers are actively used in food by the person on an extent already more, than 2 thousand years. According to archeological finds, in this product still ancient Greeks actively traded.
Natural area of growth of this look are regions with subtropical and tropical climate, and the homeland — warm and damp regions of Southern Europe and also North Africa.
The characteristic appearance is inherent in all plants. The typical representative of Kapersov has simple leaves with ferruterous omission and shipoobrazny stipules. At some versions the omission can be absent, and the sheet plate becomes complicated to ternate structure. Flowers at a plant correct, consist of 4 full-fledged petals and have 4 or 6 stamens. After blossoming on a bush the fruit box consisting of a huge number of small seeds ripens.
Learn more about useful properties of such plants as: bergenia, melissa, mint, immortelle sandy, St. John's wort, nettle, motherwort, plantain, marjoram, fenugreek, ekhinatseya, lyubistok medicinal, thistle
What is spice?
In cookery understand marinated unblown buds of a caper-plant as capers. This quite interesting and underestimated by domestic culinary specialists spice is capable to change taste of a dish at all, to give it more effective shade and pleasant sharpness. Besides, the majority of dishes of modern European cuisine cannot be presented without this product therefore its popularity only grows every year.
As receive
Often, to receive refined spice from caper buds, many technological processes as derivatives of this look are good to the use only in a tinned or marinated look are required. After emergence of the first buds there comes the long period of their collecting. Young, unblown appendages of a plant are suitable for the use. Traditionally, the most gentle are the smallest buds.
Whether you know? According to historical data, capers were a part of the original recipe of Russian salad salad which was invented at the end of the 19th century by Lucian Olivier. However for the Soviet citizens this unprecedented product from the recipe was replaced with more available and cheap — pickled cucumber.
To their growth there is an accumulation in fabrics of a set of substances and connections therefore for juicier and spicy smack collect them directly for several days before blooming.
After collecting buds there is their otsortirovka by the size, and further — preparation. Appendages, uniform in the size, pickle or preserve. For this purpose they are presoaked in hydrochloric solution with addition of vinegar and vegetable oil. In such look the product has to infuse at a temperature of +5...+10 °C for several days. Before use in food marinated capers soak previously in cold water or scald boiled water. It gives the chance to eliminate excess salt and concentration of adjacent substances. Correctly made capers have bright, juicy, sourish, slightly ostrovaty, tart smack with a characteristic mustard note.
Chemical composition
Even in the processed and tinned look this product contains a set of useful substances. First of all, it kapparidin, alkaloids, flavonols.
Besides, thioglycosides, routines, steroid saponins, iodine, mirozin concern them sugar. You should not forget also about huge amount of various vitamins, minerals and minerals.
Also, this product contains group B vitamins, namely thiamine, Riboflavinum, is well-cared, pantothenic acid, a pyridoxine, vitamins A, C, E, K, PP and also manganese, selenium, zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus.
Capers and various useful fats are rich. The product contains saturated fatty acids (miristinovy, palmitic, stearin), monounsaturated fatty acids (palmitoleinovy, olein, gadoleinovy), polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, eykozapentayenovy).
The power value of tinned capers is about 25 kcal. In 100 g of a product 2.36 g of proteins, 0.86 g of fats, 1.69 g of carbohydrates, 3.2 g of food fibers, 8.04 g of ashes and 83.85 g of water contain.
Whether you know? In the territory of the Caucasus there is own analog of capers. It is so-called johndzhol (a bladdernut Colchis) — a rare disappearing bush which buds also pickle for use in the culinary purposes.
In what advantage for health
For many will become surprise, but such foodstuff as capers has the true curative effect for a human body. Therefore its already not one millennium is actively used in house medicine. First of all, consumption of this product promotes improvement of the general condition of integuments. As a part of capers specific substance — quercetin contains — which directly improves a condition of skin.
Besides, quercetin promotes decrease allergic reactions and arterial blood pressure and also reduces risk of development of oncological new growths
In this case helps to reduce arterial blood pressure routines to which this product is rich. High content of vitamin K helps to normalize blood clotting and to reduce concentration of a prothrombin, and the increased content of copper promotes regulation of oxygen exchange in fabrics and gives the chance to stimulate digestion of protein and carbohydrates.
Also other derivatives of a kapersovy bush are useful to the general human health. From young branches and leaves of a plant prepare curative broths which help to cope with manifestations of diabetes. At problems with warm activity broths from bark and flowers of a bush help to cope with burning issues of diseases and also to improve the general emotional state at neurosises. Essential oil from seeds of a caper-plant nourish and moisten skin therefore it is actively applied in many types of massage procedures.
Application in cookery
The quantity of methods of application of capers in cookery is quite high. This product is used as a part of a garnish, juicy snack or as one of ingredients of a multicomponent dish. One of the main features of this product — strengthening of taste of the main ingredient therefore often this ability is used at preparation of fish and meat dishes which not only become more saturated, but also gain distinct piquancy and spicy aroma. Besides, described became higher ability the main cause of a huge amount of various sauces, marinades and gas stations on the basis of a product.
Most successfully capers are combined with mutton, beef, fowl, anchovies and all species of smoked and salty fish and also seafood and cheeses.
Also, among vegetables the celery, red pepper will become ideal couple for them. Derivatives of a kapersovy bush are harmoniously combined with mayonnaise, eggs, pickles, green onions, fennel and parsley
As it was mentioned above, marinated capers are quite saturated product therefore use them in pure form quite seldom. According to the majority of recommendations, they are pounded with herbs, spices, seasonings or as much as possible crushed. It gives the chance to evenly distribute aroma of capers on a dish and to sate with it to the maximum all ingredients. Besides, thanks to the high content of salts in marinated capers this product is often used instead of salt for various soups, borsch and solyanka.
Important! Capers should be added to a dish at final stages of preparation, only in that case the characteristic aroma and spiciness of a product will remain for a long time.
Application in medicine
Positive influence of capers on a human body was noticed still in the ancient time therefore this product already quite long time is applied in traditional medicine to treatment of many widespread frustration. In most cases diets with the increased maintenance of this product are used in the all-strengthening purposes.
At problems with a musculoskeletal system the systematic consumption of capers promotes active fight against loss of density of a bone and initial stages of osteoporosis.
Important! It is not recommended to apply capers independently, before therapy it is necessary to consult surely with physicians.
At diabetes this product in a daily diet gives the chance to reduce pathological concentration of sugars in blood and also to protect the vascular system from atherosclerosis and varicosity. Spirit capers infusions problems with a thyroid gland treat. For their preparation 20 g of capers insist in 250 ml of vodka for 7 days. The received means is applied on 10 drops by 3 times a day.
But, from the medical party, leaves, bark and sprouts of a bush are the most valuable. Broths from rhizomes of a plant fight against decrease in protective functions of an organism, broth from leaves — with diathesis. For this purpose 10 g of dry raw materials fill in 250 ml of water, boil within 7-10 minutes and insist on an extent of 2-3 hours. The received liquid is accepted on 1-2 tablespoons by 3 times a day in 15 minutes prior to food.
Eliminate with fruits of a plant pathologies of gums, for this purpose 2-3 times a day it is necessary to chew carefully a small amount of these fruits, the noticeable therapeutic effect manages to be gained in a week of the procedure.
The structure of capers is rich with useful substances therefore they are applied to strengthening of immunity, treatment of heart and strengthening of vessels, treatment of gums, by ulcers and also to a skin ulutshuneniye
Contraindications
The majority of foodstuff even on condition of full safety for an organism have a number of contraindications to the use, and capers are not an exception. Because as a part of this product the set of highly active substances contains, its excessive use is fraught for the general state of health.
In most cases it is connected with the increased content of compounds of sodium as a part of a product. Therefore, at existence of chronic or sharp manifestations of locks, the sexual excitability or with a low pressure (hypotonia) should limit consumption of capers, or at all to refuse this product.
Important! An absolute contraindication to consumption of capers is pregnancy. To women in situation it is strictly forbidden to eat them. Otherwise, the increased sodium content in a product can negatively affect the general course of pregnancy.
Capers are quite unusual guest from such Mediterranean kitchen, far for us, however, having seen him on the shelf in supermarket, you should not avoid its acquisition. Spicy, fragrant and slightly ostrovaty smack of this product is capable to change radically flavoring feelings, to give to dishes a unique highlight and also to supply an organism with a large amount of various vitamins, minerals and useful fats.
However, it is necessary to approach the use of this product with care as the high content of active agents in it can negatively affect the general condition of an organism.