Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables)

Our homemade Giardiniera recipe gives you the freedom to choose your level of heat. These Italian pickled vegetables are the perfect condiment for an Italian beef sandwich, and much more! 

What is Giardiniera?

Giardiniera (pronounced JAR-di-NAIR-ah) means “from the garden” in Italian. The concept has quite a long history in Italy, where fresh garden produce was pickled and marinated as a way of preserving it for the winter.

It was the early 1920s that giardiniera started to make a name for itself in the communities of Italian immigrants in Chicago.

Although it grew in popularity throughout the city, if you’ve never been to Chicago or tasted a Chicago style Italian beef sandwich, you may not have ever heard of this tangy, crunchy condiment.

Giardiniera: Authentic Italian Pickled Vegetables

Traditional Italian giardiniera is served as an antipasto (appetizer), and you will find a number of different, fresh garden vegetables used to make it.

• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Hot peppers
• And more!

Since giardiniera is considered an appetizer in Italy, the vegetables are cut into one- or two-bite chunks, making the dish perfect for a bulky appetizer, served alongside some cheese and cured meats. It is a common way to preserve the summer harvest to be enjoyed throughout the winter. 

The traditional Italian brine and marinade is quite simple, letting the flavor of the vegetables shine with just a bit of vinegar tang and a few herbs to complement the crisp texture.

Giardiniera is the perfect condiment for an Italian Beef Sandwich!

Chicago Giardiniera

Chicago style giardiniera takes a smaller and more intensely-flavored (and often spicy) form.

The vegetables are chopped smaller, sometimes even diced as finely as you would for a relish. But often, the pieces are just small enough that they can be used as a topping or garnish.

The marinade for Chicago-style giardiniera can include a much longer list of ingredients, including garlic, herbs, celery seed, red pepper flakes, and the list goes on. Each version has its own twist, and the marinade is where a lot of flavor variation can happen.

You will find Chicago-style giardiniera labeled as traditional or hot. The hot version typically includes seranno peppers to kick things up a notch.

What Do You Put Giardiniera On?

In the Windy City (Chicago), giardiniera is the classic topping for Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches and Italian sausage sandwiches. You might also find it topping bratwursts, hot dogs, sub sandwiches, and even pizza!

We like to throw it on top of salads to add a fun boost of flavor.

Our Homemade Giardiniera Recipe

The process to make authentic Italian giardiniera does take nearly a week, but before you run away to your grocery store’s aisles for a jar of pre-made giardiniera, know that nearly all of that time is hands-off on your part.

There are two main steps to making giardiniera: the brine and the marinade.

• First, the vegetables are brined in a simple mixture of salt and water. This brine solution draws moisture out of the vegetables, helping them to stay crisp in the marinade.
• Next, the vegetables are marinated in a mixture of oil, vinegar, and seasonings. We give this mixture lots of space to marinate in a covered bowl in the refrigerator for three days, before transferring it to its final resting place in a mason jar.

As you can see, the process is quite simple. And, after a few days, you will have your own giardiniera, spiced just the way you like it, all ready for topping everything from Italian beef sandwiches to pizza!

This might just become your new favorite summer condiment!

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4.10 from 40 votes

Homemade Giardiniera

Our homemade Giardiniera recipe gives you the freedom to choose your level of heat. These Italian pickled vegetables are the perfect condiment for an Italian beef sandwich, and much more! 

This recipe may take 5 days to make, but most of it is hands-off time.

Yield: 3 cups of giardiniera

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Condiment

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: antipasto, vegetables

Servings: 12 people

Author: Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

Ingredients

• ¼ c salt
• 1 c carrots, sliced
• 1 c cauliflower, cut into small florets
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
• 2-4 serrano chilies, sliced (depending on desired heat level)
• ¾ c canola oil or pure olive oil*
• ¾ c white vinegar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp oregano

Instructions

Day One

• Mix 2 c water with the salt and stir until dissolved. Add the carrot slices, cauliflower, celery, bell peppers, and serranos. Mix to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Day Two

• Drain and rinse the vegetables.
• In a clean bowl, mix oil and vinegar with the garlic and oregano. Add the vegetables to the seasoned oil and mix to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 3 days to marinate.

Day Five

• After 3 days in the bowl, transfer the vegetables to a quart jar, pour as much of the seasoned oil/vinegar mixture in as you need to cover the vegetables.
• The mixture will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks.

Notes

*Olive oil does turn into a solid at refrigerator temperatures. So, if you choose to use olive oil to make your giardiniera, the oil will solidify in the refrigerator. This is normal. Simply remove your jar from the refrigerator and allow the giardiniera to come to room temperature before serving. 

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.

www.curiouscuisiniere.com/about/