You may be interested in…
Your cart is currently empty!
Giardiniera
Servings10
cupsPrep time45
minutesCalories125
kcalGiardiniera is a zesty Italian condiment featuring a medley of pickled vegetables, popular in Chicago and other parts of the Midwest. This homemade version combines crisp cauliflower, sweet peppers, carrots, celery, and spicy serrano peppers, marinated in a flavorful blend of vinegar, olive oil, and aromatic spices. The recipe requires minimal cooking skills but does need time for proper pickling and flavor development. Versatile and long-lasting, giardiniera adds a crunchy, spicy kick to sandwiches, salads, burgers and hotdogs. This recipe yields a large batch, making it perfect for home canning or as a thoughtful homemade gift. The spice level can be easily adjusted to suit individual preferences.
Ingredients
1 head cauliflower (about 2 lbs or 900 g)
2 cups (300 g) sweet peppers, seeded
2 cups (256 g) carrots
2 cups (256 g) celery
4-8 serrano peppers, seeded (adjust for spice preference)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup (150 g) salt
1 cup (240 ml) white vinegar
1 cup (240 ml) olive oil
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
1-3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (adjust for spice preference)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup (75 g) pimento-stuffed olives, chopped
Directions
- Chop all vegetables using the pulse feature on your high-performance blender.
- In a large, non-reactive bowl, dissolve salt in water.
- Ensure vegetables and garlic are fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Drain and rinse vegetables twice.
- In a large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, oregano, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.
- Add rinsed vegetables and olives to the dressing. Mix until evenly coated.
- Distribute mixture into clean mason jars.
- Cover jars and refrigerate for at least 48 hours before serving.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Using a high-performance blender or food processor will save time chopping vegetables but you can also chop by hand.
- Adjust the number of serrano peppers and amount of crushed red pepper to suit your spice preference.
- Giardiniera will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
