THE FOODIST / A ONE BERRY MIDNIGHT SNACK

 

Craving a late-night snack, but tired of treats that are too sweet or heavy? Try a caper berry. Unlike the caper—the unopened flower bud—a caper berry is the mature fruit of the same shrub, Capparis spinosa. 

Larger, milder and crunchier than a caper, it has edible seeds and a sharp, olive-like bite. The plant is native to the Mediterranean and grows well in hot, dry, rocky country. An ounce of brined berries has about 10 calories, no fat or sugar, two grams of carbohydrate and one gram of fiber. 

The nutritional catch is sodium: brands vary from about 490 to 840 milligrams per ounce. Rinsing one, however, can temper the salt. 

 Why aren’t they more popular? Capers own the name, while their berries remain a specialty garnish. An eight-ounce jar generally costs $6 to $8.

One berry makes a bracing lip smacking midnight snack.