Best Caper Vinaigrette Recipes

SLOW ROASTED SALMON WITH A WARM PRESERVED LEMON AND CRISPY CAPER VINAIGRETTE AND THINLY SLICED POTATOES

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Place sugar and water in a medium nonreactive saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Continue boiling until sugar has completely melted. Reduce heat to low, add the lemon wedges and cook slowly until almost soft. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a baking rack. Let dry at room temperature overnight.
• Place lemon juice in a small nonreactive saucepan and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, let cool.
• Place cooled lemon syrup, sherry vinegar, shallots and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Pour into a bowl and fold in the parsley.
• Fry capers in oil until crisp, about 1 1/2 minutes. Drain on paper towel.
• For the potatoes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the potatoes with the oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Arrange the potatoes in an even layer in the bottom of 4 small cazuelas. Place in the oven and bake 3/4 of the way through.
• For the salmon: Remove the potatoes from the oven and reduce the heat to 250 degrees F. Lightly brush the salmon on both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the salmon on top of the potatoes and return the cazuelas to the oven. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from oven and immediately drizzle with lemon vinaigrette, and sprinkle with chopped parsley and capers.

CRISPY POTATO PANCAKE WITH SMOKED SALMON AND DILL-CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the mustard, vinegar and shallots. Whisk in the canola and olive oils to emulsify the dressing, and then fold in the capers and dill. Season with pepper only, as the capers are salty.
• On the large-hole side of a box grater, grate the onion into a strainer set over a bowl. Then, peel the potatoes. It is important to work quickly to avoid potato oxidation. You do not want to store the potatoes in water, as the starch will be washed away. Using the large-hole side of the box grater, grate the potatoes into the strainer. Press out the liquid and discard. Toss the potatoes with the onions and season with salt and pepper.
• In an 8-inch nonstick saute pan set over medium-high heat, melt the Clarified Butter. It will seem like a lot of butter. Pack the potatoes into the pan, so that the layer is 1/2-inch thick. Saute the potatoes until the bottom just starts to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully and gently flip the potato pancake onto a small plate browned-side up. Then slide the potato pancake back into the pan and brown on the other side over medium-high heat. Place in the oven and cook until evenly golden, another 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potato pancake on a paper towel and cut into quarters.
• Roll the smoked salmon into rosettes. Top the potato pancake slices with the smoked salmon rosettes, a few dollops of creme fraiche and the dill fronds. Drizzle with the vinaigrette before serving.
• Heat the butter in a heavy-duty saucepan over very low heat until it's melted. Simmer gently until the foam rises to the top of the melted butter. The butter may splatter a bit, so be careful.
• Once the butter stops spluttering and no more foam seems to be rising to the surface, remove from the heat and skim off the foam with a spoon.
• Line a mesh strainer with a few layers of cheesecloth or gauze and set the strainer over a heatproof container.
• Carefully pour the warm butter through the cheesecloth-lined strainer into the container, discarding any solids from the bottom of the pan.

SPINACH SALAD WITH SMOKED SALMON, EVERYTHING BAGEL CROUTONS AND LEMON-CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the bagel pieces in a large bowl, drizzle with the olive oil, and toss to coat. Add the poppy seeds, sesame seeds and some salt; toss again. Spread the bagel pieces out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until light golden brown and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes.
• For the vinaigrette: Put the lemon zest and juice, dill, capers, mustard, and some salt and pepper in a medium bowl; whisk to combine. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make a thick creamy dressing. Taste, and season with salt and pepper.
• For the salad: Put the croutons, smoked salmon and cream cheese in a large bowl, and then mound the spinach, fennel, cucumber and red onion on top. Spoon some of the vinaigrette around the side of the bowl and toss gently to coat the salad with dressing. Spoon the remaining vinaigrette nicely on individual serving plates and gently mound some salad on top. Serve immediately.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH CAPER-CORNICHON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a small pot of water to a simmer over medium heat. Lower eggs into water; cook 9 minutes. Transfer to ice bath; let stand until cool enough to handle. Peel and slice into rounds.
• Whisk together vinegar, mustard, and sugar. Slowly whisk in oil, then capers, cornichons, and thyme. Season to taste.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Drizzle asparagus lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning once, until crisp-tender and charred in places, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a platter, top with eggs, and spoon vinaigrette over top; serve.

EGGPLANT SALAD WITH PEPPERS, MINT AND CAPER-FETA VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Whisk together the oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Toss eggplant with 1/3 cup vinaigrette, reserving the rest. Arrange on a baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until tender and golden around edges, about 30 minutes. Let eggplant cool somewhat. (It can be warm but not hot enough to melt feta or wilt mint.)
• Whisk feta, garlic and capers into reserved vinaigrette. In a large bowl, combine eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and mint leaves. Toss with vinaigrette, and serve immediately or within several hours. (It holds up all day.)

GRILLED TUNA AND PEPPERS WITH CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare gas grill for cooking over direct high heat.
• While grill heats, cut peppers lengthwise into quarters, discarding stems and seeds. Trim ends so that quarters lie flat.
• Sprinkle tuna all over with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Cook tuna and peppers on lightly oiled grill rack, turning over once, until tuna is pink only in center and peppers are just tender, 4 to 6 minutes total (peppers may take longer than tuna). Transfer tuna and peppers as cooked to a serving plate.
• While tuna cooks, whisk together lemon juice, mustard, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in capers and parsley.
• Serve tuna topped with peppers and caper vinaigrette.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON-CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Vinaigrette: Combine the shallots, lemon zest and lemon juice, capers, and parsley in a small non-reactive bowl.
• Whisk in the olive oil; season with taste with salt and pepper.
• Set aside.
• To prepare the asparagus: Brush the asparagus with olive oil; season with salt.
• Grill (I used a stove top grill pan) over medium-high heat, turning often to brown evenly. Grill asparagus until just tender, approximately 8-10 minutes.
• Transfer asparagus to a platter.
• Drizzle vinaigrette over the asparagus, sprinkle with pinenuts and top with Parmesan cheese.

SMOKED SALMON & WATERCRESS SALAD WITH RED ONION-CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Mix lemon juice, vinegar, mustard and a big pinch of salt and pepper to taste in a 1-quart Pyrex measuring cup. Add capers and onion; toss to coat. Slowly add oil, pushing onion aside and beating with a small whisk or fork to form a thick dressing.
• Mix watercress and half the salmon in a large bowl. When ready to serve, pour dressing over watercress and salmon; toss to coat. Arrange on salad plates, garnishing each with remaining smoked salmon.

SOUS-VIDE SALMON WITH CAPER-PARSLEY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place salmon pieces skin-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle flesh side with sugar and pepper, then season generously with salt to taste. Let sit while you prepare herb paste.
• In a mini food processor or blender, combine dill, parsley, scallions and oil. Blend into a paste, then smear onto flesh side of salmon. Sandwich all four salmon pieces so flesh sides are touching, then place in a sous-vide bag. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill, at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
• Heat water with sous-vide machine to 113 degrees if grilling or broiling to sear the skin before serving, or 122 degrees if serving as is. Submerge salmon in its sous-vide bag in water, weighing it down if necessary to submerge, and cook for 2 hours, or until pink in the middle and barely flaking.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together onion, lemon juice, parsley, capers, garlic, scallions, salt and pepper until combined. Whisk in oil in a slow, steady stream. Taste and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice to your liking.
• If you'd like to sear the salmon skin for serving, heat grill or broiler and position rack 4 inches from heating element.
• Brush salmon skin with oil. For grilling, lay pieces skin-side down in a grill basket, and grill until skin is lightly charred and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. For broiling, transfer salmon pieces to a rimmed baking sheet and broil skin-side up until skin is lightly charred and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter and serve with vinaigrette on the side.

MEDITERRANEAN SALAD WITH LEMON CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Combine dressing ingredients in cruet or jar. Shake well to combine ingredients. This can be done in advance.
• Divide salad greens into four dishes. Top with tomatoes, olives, feta, and onion.
• Shake dressing and pour over salad. (You may not need all the dressing).

KATHYS FRIED HALLOUMI CHEESE WITH LIME AND CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Pat cheese dry with kitchen paper.
• Slice into fingers.
• Prepare dressing by mixing all ingredients together in bowl. Check taste.
• You can make it ahead of time and put in fridge overnight, but take out to warm up a little before serving.
• Coat cheese slices in seasoned flour.
• Heat oil in frying pan.
• Fry cheese slices in hot oil, about 1 minute each side, till golden.
• Serve immediately with dressing poured over.
• Serve with Greek pitta bread/French bread.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS AND CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Toss cauliflower with 1/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl, then divide between two 4-sided sheet pans. Roast cauliflower, turning it and switching position of pans halfway through, until just tender and browned in spots, about 20 minutes total.
• While cauliflower roasts, whisk together lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large serving bowl, then add remaining 1/2 cup oil in a slow stream, whisking. Finely chop about 1 tablespoon capers, then whisk chopped and whole capers into vinaigrette. Add warm cauliflower and peppers and toss to coat. Serve at room temperature.

ASPARAGUS WITH LEMON CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim ends of asparagus and place spears in a large skillet.
• Cover asparagus with water and add salt and 1 Tbsp lemon juice.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer about 7 minutes until crisp-tender.
• Remove from heat and run under cold water to stop cooking.
• Prepare vinaigrette:.
• Combine remaining lemon juice, capers, mustard, sugar, and pepper. (Capers may be chopped or left whole, it's up to you. I usually chop them up a little.).
• Slowly drizzle in oil while whisking rapidly, allowing vinaigrette to thicken slightly.
• Toss asparagus with vinaigrette and serve.
• May be refrigerated and served within a couple hours, or served warm immediately.

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• To prepare the cauliflower, pull and cut off the green leaves. Cut the head in half from the top to the bottom. Cut out the core, and then cut the top into smaller pieces leaving some stem attached. You want bite-sized florets that look like little trees of cauliflower.
• Toss the cauliflower with olive oil and salt and place in the oven. Roast the cauliflower for 20 minutes.
• While the cauliflower is roasting, puree the capers, garlic, vinegar, and parsley in a food processor. While the machine is running, drizzle in 1/4 cup olive oil. Taste and season with salt, if needed.
• Toss the roasted cauliflower with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with the raisins.

MARINATED SHRIMP, SCALLOP AND CAPER SALAD WITH SHERRY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add shrimp to skillet; sauté 2 minutes. Add scallops and season with salt and pepper; sauté just until cooked through, about 1 minute. Transfer to bowl; cool. Drain off juices.
• Whisk vinegar, garlic and crushed red bell pepper in small bowl. Whisk in 1/2 cup oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add to shrimp mixture. Mix in onion and capers. Chill at least 1 hour or up to 3 hours, tossing occasionally.
• Place greens in large bowl. Drizzle with some dressing from shrimp mixture atop greens. Using slotted spoon, arrange shrimp mixture atop greens. Place tomato and avocado slices in border around salad, overlapping slices; drizzle with any remaining dressing.

GRILLED TROUT WITH WHITE BEANS AND CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Cook butter in small skillet over medium heat until brown, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in oil, then shallots, vinegar, capers, and rosemary. Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Mix beans, lemon peel, and 2 tablespoons vinaigrette in medium skillet. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Brush a little vinaigrette over flesh side of trout; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place skillet with beans on edge of grill to warm through. Grill trout, flesh side down, until brown, about 2 minutes. Turn trout over; grill until cooked through, about 2 minutes. Transfer trout to plates. Mix arugula into warm beans; spoon alongside trout. Rewarm remaining vinaigrette; spoon over trout and beans.

GRILLED GRASS-FED RIB-EYE STEAKS WITH BALSAMIC-CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Simmer vinegar in small pan over medium heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 6 minutes. Add shallots, 1/4 cup oil, and crushed red pepper; return to simmer. Remove from heat; whisk in parsley, capers, and thyme. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
• Rub both sides of steaks with oil and garlic. Mix paprika, 2 teaspoons coarse salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper in small bowl. Sprinkle on both sides of steaks. Let stand at least 15 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill rack with oil to coat. Grill steaks until cooked to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steaks to plates. Spoon vinaigrette over.

CAPER AND LIME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, lime juice, capers, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.

TOMATO, CAPER AND OLIVE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk together lemon juice and mustard. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Stir in tomatoes, olives, capers, and salt and pepper to taste.

GREEN BEAN SALAD WITH MUSTARD-CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Boil beans in salted water for 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
• Drain and refresh in a bowl of ice and cold water. Drain and pat dry. (may be prepared up to 1 day in advance).
• In a blender, puree capers with lemon juice, mustard and 2 tblsps white wine. With motor running, add oil in a thin, steady stream and blend until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning by adding salt and pepper. (may be made up to 1 day in advance. Whisk before using).
• In a large serving bowl, toss together beans and dressing. Sieve hard-boiled egg over top.