Pesto with Capers and Almonds

You don’t have to love capers to enjoy this pesto with capers and almonds from Kazzen—their tart umami essence gives the bright herbal sauce a delicious flavor boost. But if you’re already a fan of the little green buds, which are a secret ingredient in some of our favorite punchy Italian dishes, you’ll love this new way to enjoy their unique flavor. It combines Pantelleria’s famous capers with creamy Sicilian almonds and fresh herbs for a bold take on the classic Genoese sauce.

Capers are the young buds of a flowering shrub that grows across the Mediterranean region. The only way to harvest capers is in the early morning, to catch them when they’re most tightly closed. Too small to be harvested by machine, they must be picked by hand, then left to dry for a few days before packing. When it comes to Italian capers, one region rises above the rest: the island of Pantelleria, off the southwest coast of Sicily near Tunisia. Caper bushes are one of the few native plants that thrive in the island’s dry, rocky terrain and intense heat, and Pantelleria capers are known to be the most flavorful and largest in Italy.

Run by three brothers from Pantelleria, Kazzen is dedicated to sharing the unique bounty of their home with the rest of Italy and the world. A true labor of love, Kazzen uses traditional methods and recipes to continue the flavorful legacy of their island. Their motto is “specialità dell’isola”—specialties of the island—and their capers, oils, and delicious sauces and spreads will bring a taste of Pantelleria to your home.