A long time ago I read somewhere that nasturtium seeds can be pickled and used as a replacement caper. I love capers but don’t feel so upbeat about the price of the tiny little jars so I’ve been wanting to try out this cheapskate trick for ages.
I’ve got a few plants started in the front room nursery and have just scattered a few more seeds around the plot today. Nasturtiums are a really useful plant, they are beautifully gaudy, attract blackfly like you wouldn’t believe – thereby saving the broad beans from suffocation by the black beasties and the leaves add a peppery pungent taste to salads. If the pickling trick works, nasturtiums could easily make it into my top 5 desirable plant list.
Here’s the recipe I’m going to try:
Collect as many green nasturtium seeds as you can muster – you pick these after the flowers have dropped but before they dry out, soak them overnight in a salty brine and then drop them into the boiled and cooled pickling concoction. I’ll keep these in jars and shove them in the fridge but may update the recipe and storage instructions once I learn some pickling techniques.
1 mug white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons salt
1 small onion, thinly sliced
A few slices of lemon
1 bay leaf
Pinch of mustard seeds
2 cloves garlic
6 peppercorns
9 responses so far ↓
1 VP // Apr 17, 2008 at 10:01 pm
OOh let me know how you get on with this – I’ve been thinking about doing the same!
2 deb // Apr 18, 2008 at 12:36 am
I have always wanted to do this. I planted a bunch of nasturtium this spring. Thanks for the info.
Deb
3 Esther Montgomery // Apr 18, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hello
I’ve come visiting because I saw you on Amanda’s favourite Blotanists list.
Nasturtium seeds – I used them once instead of capers but found them too hot for my taste.
(Mind, I don’t like capers either so it’s not much of an observation really!)
One of the things I like about nasturtium leaves is that they are quickly turned to skeletons by Cabbage White caterpillars.
They look lovely and lacy like this!
Esther Montgomery
ESTHER IN THE GARDEN
4 Cheryl // Apr 18, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I love capers, hhmm pickled nasturtium seeds, thats a new one on me. I grow loads as they are easy, bright, and good for the bees and butterflies. I might just give that a go as it really sounds unusual (I like unusual).
Tks
5 Melanthia // Apr 19, 2008 at 6:26 am
Sounds delicious. I’m must plant some and try for myself.
6 earthwoman // Apr 20, 2008 at 10:42 am
Sounds like quite a few of you fancy the pickled nasturtium idea as well. Perhaps we should combine our nasurtium growing skills and set up a mass production – Tesco will be screaming for these next year.
7 hedgewitch // Apr 22, 2008 at 9:07 am
thanks so much for sharing this recipe .. i’ve read about pickling nasturtium seeds (but not seen how to do it, not being someone who pickles, generally, lol!)
I always grow nasturtiums just cos I love ‘em! Have got the sort with the marbled foliage this year, my fave.
Happy Earth Day to you
8 Rob // Apr 24, 2008 at 8:41 pm
That just rocks. I have been trying to convert my husband to nasturtiums (trailing from hanging basket with pretty flowers AND you can eat it). He loves capers, this might just clinch it.
I’ve just come across this blog and it’s fab. ANy chance you could hook it up to feedburner so I can get your instalments by email?
Yours,
Rob
9 earthwoman // Apr 24, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Happy Earthday as well Hedgewitch even if I am a bit late.
Thanks Rob, hope he’s persuaded by the caper substitute. I’ve added a link to feedburner now and my feed can be found here : http://feeds.feedburner.com/earthwoman
I’m looking forward to going through your website, it looks like I may well learn a few things.
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