Flinders Rose

[Zosherooney]

AKA Capers I now know I have seen then growing here but did not realise what they were. I shall be on the lookout for them when we hire the car. It would seem that this is the perfect time for picking them.

[StokeySue]

In Santorini they pickle the wild caper leaves as well as the buds and add them to salads
Think they might be a bit spiky raw
Flinders Rose?

[scullion]

Unread postby StokeySue » June 7th, 2017, 9:05 am
Flinders Rose?

the caper bush's common name

[StokeySue]

[Herbidacious]

I looked it up. It's quite a pretty flower. I take it you are on your hols, Zosh

[Zosherooney]

Yep, Herb., Serifos and yesterday Sifnos. Just two of the Little Cyclades, classic white cubed houses with blue trimmings, and strict about it they are too !

[Zosherooney]

Found capers today growing in abundance out of a wall, I had a carrier with me and we picked some and some leaves, we had the leaves many years ago on Angistri. So having just had a lunch of half a spinach catherine wheel and noodle salad have put the capers and leaves in to soak in the first lot of water, this happens for 3 days (changing the water every day). Not sure what the cleaner will make of it.

[Herbidacious]

ooh lovely - to holiday - and the caper find. How exciting!

I am off to Normandy tonight. I suspect I won't find capers really really hoping for cherries (we have a massive tree, but have only once been there when it was fruiting and didn't have the means to reach the cherries as too high up) but not holding my breath.

[Zosherooney]

I bought dark cherries here recently - really nice but to aid my gout.... now very much better.

This morning, I made a brine with vinegar recommended by the girl in the s'market - had salt and water and added the soaked (but only for 2 days, too many days and apparently no flavour is left) capers and leaves on short stems and jut bought to a simmer then left to cool. When cold packed into a 500ml water bottle with the brine and they are now in the fridge, will be rotated until we leave and then packed and returned to UK. I did try one and felt it was to our liking, they can be soaked if necessary but like a certain amount of astringency for them to 'work'.

I do so love getting involved with local ingredients !

[scullion]

shame it's not seed season.

[Zosherooney]

You are right Scull. but I fear our cool summers would not allow for a Flinders rose to cultivate. They are very pretty roses

[scullion]

i bet they'd do it here. i had clivia in flower, outside, this spring and my strelizia bud is just about to break. both live outside all winter - plus there's always the greenhouse or poly tunnel.

[StokeySue]

The problem with growing them would seem to be they take a long time to be ready to harvest, but you can get the seeds from UK suppliers



Naybe I'll stick to nasturtiums

[Zosherooney]

The fruit - capers have been curing in the vinegar/brine in the fridge and an early tasting and the signs are good. They fit perfectly into a 500mil plakky bottle and will be in a bag, wrapped in a towel in stowed luggage.

[Zosherooney]

These have now been decanted into jam jars, having used some in the dressing for the slow cooked aubergine dish I am cooking, I did of course sample (would have been rude not to!) and I am pleased with the results.

[cyprusmoira]

I did not know that they were called Flinders Rose, I saw banks of them this morning, untouched because they were by a busy road, too much pollution.
The stems are also pickled here

moira

[Zosherooney]

Moira, I also picked stems and pickled them.

[Zosherooney]

My picked capers, and examples of capers on stems

[StokeySue]

Looking good Zosh!

[Zosherooney]

Thanks Sue, they taste good too