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giardiniera in a jar

Giardiniera

Giardiniera 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.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 cups
Course: Food Prep
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 125
Ingredients Method Nutrition Video Notes

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

Method
 

  1. Chop all vegetables using the pulse feature on your high-performance blender.
  2. In a large, non-reactive bowl, dissolve salt in water.
  3. Ensure vegetables and garlic are fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  4. Drain and rinse vegetables twice.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, oregano, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.
  6. Add rinsed vegetables and olives to the dressing. Mix until evenly coated.
  7. Distribute mixture into clean mason jars.
  8. Cover jars and refrigerate for at least 48 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcal

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.

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