Giardiniera, Winter’s Vegetable Garden

Italian giardiniera is also called sottaceti ("under vinegar"), a common term for pickled foods. It is typically eaten as an antipasto or with salads.

In the United States, giardiniera is commonly available in traditional or spicy varieties.

The Italian version includes bell peppers, celery, carrots, cauliflower and gherkins. The pickled vegetables are marinated in oil, red- or white-wine vinegar, herbs and spices.

The crunchy mix of vinegar-brined vegetables is probably Italy’s most well-known pickle. Walk into any supermarket or alimentari in Italy and you’re bound to find shelves filled with jars of these mixed pickles: some preserved with tomato, Piemontese-style, some with tuna, some with olives. But if the bottled supermarket version is your only reference, you are in for a happy surprise. Homemade giardiniera is so much more appealing, crisp and assertive but not abrasive.

Ingredients

1 medium head cauliflower, about 1 1/2 pounds (680g), separated into florets

1 pound (500g) carrots, sliced on the bias if large, left whole if small

4 large celery stalks, sliced on the bias into 2-inch lengths

1 red bell pepper, cored, trimmed, and sliced into thin strips

1 yellow bell pepper, cored, trimmed, and sliced into thin strips

2 cups (470ml) white wine vinegar

2 cups (470ml) distilled white vinegar

2 cups (470ml) water

2 tablespoons fine sea salt

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

1 teaspoon crushed red chile pepper

1/2 teaspoon whole cloves (about 10)

1/2 teaspoon juniper berries (about 9)

2 bay leaves

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Equipment

3 clean 1-quart (1-L) jars or 6 pint-size jars, and their lids

Basic water-bath canning equipment.

Preparation

1. Have the vegetables prepped and ready.

2. Combine the vinegars, water, salt, sugar, peppercorns, crushed red pepper, cloves, juniper berries, and bay leaves in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add all the vegetables and stir. Cover the pot and let the vegetable steep, still on the heat, for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and, with a skimmer or large slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to a bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons to each quart-size jar or 1 tablespoon to each pint-size jar. Pack the vegetables into the jars, adding a mix of each vegetable and some of the spices to each jar. Pour the brine over the vegetables, leaving 1/2-inch (13mm) headspace. Use a bubble remover to dislodge any air bubbles. Screw the lids on tightly and process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Store the sealed jars in a cool, dark place and let the giardiniera cure for at least 1 week before serving. It will keep for up to 1 year. Refrigerate any jars that fail to seal properly and enjoy those first.

I have been very busy at work lately, so I have fallen a little behind on my posts. I hope to get back on track and post something new on a more regular basis.

Until then, alla prossima!

Buon cibo e buon appetito a tutti!!

Chef John