Cucunci (Caper berries)

Cucunci - or caper berries in English - is something that has flown a bit under the radar. Even though it's rarely used in cooking, it really shines as a garnish on a salad, charcuterie board, or something similar.

The regular caper berries from the store are often in a vinegar solution, which makes them taste like pickles. If you haven't noticed it before, you will now that we've pointed it out :) Sorry...

These, on the other hand, have a good and distinct flavor that actually tastes like capers. Plus, they have that satisfying crunch that caper berries should have. So if you're going to have caper berries, these are the ones to go for. By the way, they're grown on the caper paradise of Salina, and they're made by the quality producer Sapori Eoliani. It's perfection, we might say.

The caper berries come salted, and you must let them soak in water for a while before eating. The producer says a few hours with several water changes, but we usually manage just over an hour. However, you'll need to adjust for how salty you want them.