Hot & Spicy Giardiniera ~ #SundaySupper
This week the #SundaySupper crew is preserving the summer harvest. That means we’re canning, pickling, and jamming our favorite summer produce. I decided to make a Hot & Spicy Giardiniera mix. You won’t believe how easy it is to make. Oh, it’s way better than the jarred brands in the store.
I love summer. Really, I do. Yes, it’s dog-breath hot outside (how’d you like that for imagery), but you can’t beat all of the fresh produce that grows in the hot summer sun. Peaches. Big, ripe, juicy peaches. There’s nothing like biting into a peach fresh off the tree and licking the juice that trickles down your wrists and onto your arms. Then there are the tomatoes. I look forward to those massive red orbs that glow bright red when the sun hits the vines just right in my garden. Homemade marinara, you never tasted so good! Let’s not forget about the zucchini. They’ve practically taken over my garden with their enormous, elephant-ear like leaves. So many zucchini. Fresh juicy melons, cucumbers right off the trellis, pink radishes, any array of fancy beans, and the list trails on.
Canning is now considered retro, part of the good ol’ past. It’s unfortunate, really. I don’t think people realize how easy canning can be. Some shy away from the process because it’s intimidating and daunting. The word “botulism” comes to mind. As long as you clean you sterilize your jars and use new seals each time you can, you’re good to go. Sterilize, fill, boil, wait until you hear the ubiquitous pop of the seal. It’s that simple. No, canning doesn’t require any fancy equipment: jars, lids, seals, dish towel, tongs, and a big pot are all you need. If you want an easy introduction on canning, read my peach butter post.
If canning still gives you anxiety, you can always resort to the refrigerator method. This hot & spicy giardiniera doesn’t require old-fashioned canning. All you have to do is chop the veggies, heat the brine, fill the jar, and refrigerate. Viola!
Whatever you do, don’t be like me. Don’t lean over the pot as you’re stirring the brine and take a big ol’ whiff. Don’t do it! That vinegary brine took my breath away. I gagged and chocked and my eyes teared up. What possessed me to do that, I’ll never know. Big dummy!
I started off by making a slightly sweet and salty brine by heating vinegar, water, salt, and sugar. I tossed in a heaping teaspoon of red pepper flakes to give it that warm background heat and added some jalapenos and Serrano chiles to pack a burst of heat in the foreground.
Spicy, sweet heat makes this giardiniera unlike any other you’ll find in the store.
Like me, you’re going to want to pile it high on a cold cut, layer it on a salad, or spoon into your mouth directly from the jar.
Check out the other summer harvest recipes:
Cool Condiments:
Chow Chow Relish from Magnolia Days
Homemade Hot Dog Relish from Juanita’s Cocina
Fabulous Fruits:
Apricot Ginger Jam from Happy Baking Days
Banana Jam from Killer Bunnies, Inc
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream from Gotta Get Baked
Blueberry Lemon Basil Jam from Daily Dish Recipes
Candied Watermelon Rind fromWhat Smells So Good?
Fig and Strawberry Jam from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
Mixed Berry Rhubarb Jam from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Mulberry Jam from Curious Cuisiniere
Quick Peacharine Chutney from Shockingly Delicious
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Freezer Jam fromCookin’ Mimi
Strawberry Butter from The Urban Mrs
Other Outstanding Recipes:
Fireweed Jelly fromThe Foodie Army Wife
Flavoured Butters from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
Gravlax fromThat Skinny Chick Can Bake
Vivacious Vegetables:
Corn Cob Jelly from Blueberries and Blessings
Deep South Dilly Beans from Eat, Move, Shine
Fermented (Sour) Pickles from Growing Up Gabel
Fire Roasted Salsa fromPeanut Butter and Peppers
Hot and Spicy Giardiniera from The Messy Baker
Hot Italian Giardiniera from Healthy. Delicious.
Jalapeños en Escabeche (Pickled Jalapeños) fromLa Cocina de Leslie
Oi Kimchi (Korean Cucumber Kimchi) from kimchi MOM
Refrigerator Dill Pickles from Country Girl in the Village
Spicy Sweet Tomato Chutney fromFood Lust People Love
Traditional Escabeche (Pickle) fromBasic N Delicious
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
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- Brine
- 1 cup distilled vinegar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup + 1tbs. sugar
- 2 tbs. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
- 1 Serrano, thinly sliced
- Veggies
- 1/2 cup diced red pepper
- 2 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 4 radishes, sliced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets, cut into small pieces
- In a medium saucepan, add vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to boil. Take the mixture off of the heat and add the jalapeño and Serrano slices. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
- While your mixture is cooling cut up all of your veggies. Add the veggies to a bowl and mix to combine. Fill a 1.5 liter glass clip top jar or mason jar half way with the veggie mixture. Pour half of the warm brine over the veggies. Add the remaining veggies and top with the remaining brine.
- Place in the refrigerator. Allow the mixture to pickle for at least 48 hours before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
58 Comments on “Hot & Spicy Giardiniera ~ #SundaySupper”
Gorgeous giardiniera! Pinned. And bookmarked.
Thanks, Renee!
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This looks lovely! Love all the vegetables and colors. i’ve leaned over the stove when making a vinegar brine before and WOW! Not something I want to repeat :)
Heck no. It burned the hair right out of my nostrils. Thanks, Hezzi!
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This is one of my favorite, favorite snacks. As a kid I used to beg my mom to buy the jars of it. I’m going to make this today. I don’t have cauliflower, so I will add a pinch more celery or carrots. Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to make this today!
Jen, you’re going to love this. I’ve been nibbling on it daily. The hardest part is waiting a full 48 hours before eating it. Let me know how you like it.
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See! I did it too! That vinegar is nassssty!
But this is beautiful!
Thanks, Jen! I nearly passed out.
GORGEOUS!! I love that you added radishes, too.
Thanks, Lauren. I had radishes in the fridge, so I figured what the heck.
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Great recipe! I love that you added radishes. I had never thought to add them and I love radishes. What was I thinking lol. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks, Shannon. The radishes add a sharp bite to the mixture that I just adore.
I think we’ve all done the sniffing the vinegar thing. Did it just yesterday, in fact, pickling baby beets. And I know better. Why?!
That giardiniera looks beautiful with all its different colors. I think I’d love a big spoonful myself, if you’d just move over. :)
Ha, ha. Hmm, where do you live again? All the way across the deep blue sea. Heck, I’d love to visit. Do you think the airlines would let me sneak some of this on? Thanks, Stacy.
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I have been thinking about canning some veggies too recently. This giardiniera sounds great!
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We have 3 huge jars of this in our cantina from my stepdad’s mom (who died 5 years ago!) for some reason nobody eats it at home but we LOVE it dining out!
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Oh my goodness, I could see myself prone to sniffing the briney steam :) Guess you’ve talked me out of it. I loooove giardiniera and just made my own for the first time too! Although I didn’t can because as you mentions “some people” are a little nervous when it comes to the canning process and it certainly seems intimidating. I thought there were lifters and wire racks and a special pot involved?!? I’m headed right over to read your peach butter post just as soon as my fingers are done typing. Lovely recipe!
Thanks, Kate. Canning doesn’t require all of that fancy stuff. I just used what I had on hand, and it worked out perfect. Yes, don’t sniff the brine :)
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Totally agree on boiling vinegar! When I was working on the Drizzles, I had my fair share of eye-burn, and then some… yuck! Great recipe!!!
It’s the worst, Diana. My nose still burns ;) Thanks!
All those summery colours and flavours it is literally like bottled summer – love it :)
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks, Uru.
I love pickled veggies! In Tucson, they always serve pickled veggies with some of the Mexican dishes….and I loved that! Your recipe looks awesome, Hugs, Terra
Thanks, Terra. I’m addicted.
I’ve never had giardiniera, but the combo sounds fantastic! I agree with you, it’s a shame people have gotten away from canning. It is a process, but after you get it down, it’s really nothing to be scared of.
Sarah, it’s really easy once you get the hang of it. I love canning. It’s methodical and stress-free.
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This is brilliant, my dear! I love the idea of pickling food and still have never tried it. There’s all sorts of probiotics in there and I hear that fermenting foods actually enhances the health benefits. Plus they’re delicious! I’m definitely going to try out your recipe and get my pickle on ;)
Julia, it’s so easy. Just don’t take a huge whiff of the brine. That’s a big no-no. I didn’t know about the probiotics part–even better! Thanks.
I looove giardiniera on sandwiches, but have never thought to make it myself. Yours looks SO good – I need to give it a try!
Amy, it’s so stinkin’ easy–I promise! You’ll love it, too. Thanks!
I didn’t know what giardiniera , but already I can think of so many things I would have it with – thank you!
It’s a must try, Katy. Thanks!
I love spicy giardiniera! The summer is my favorite time of year to stock up on homemade marinara for the rest of the year. Love it!
I love making and preserving veggies. Thanks!
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In the fifth grade, we were reading short informative stories for English class and there was one article about how a couple died of botulism after eating a banged up can of potato soup that they didn’t warm up properly. Ever since then, I’ve been paranoid about canned foods and canning so you totally hit the nail on the head here about why I’m intimidated with preserving food. I’ll just have to use your fridge method so that I can enjoy this giardiniera without fear of death <– Yes, I'm super melodramatic!
giardiniera! i’ve never even thought to make this for myself…weird, considering i’m forever trying to take things i purchase at the store and turn them into homemade. this is so pretty…like a perfect summer thing to have on hand. and you did NOT have to warn me about the whiffing of the hot vinegar, girl: i’ve learned that the hard way. :) i love what vinegar adds to food, because it’s magic, but to smell it is to momentarily hate it.
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OMG, if you make this, don’t even bother to make anything less than a TRIPLE batch!!! And it does taste amazing on day one!!
Jill, I’m so happy you made one of my recipes, and it makes me even happier that you liked it so much. My grandmother literally ate the entire jar. I didn’t realize how easy it was to make this at home until I made it. Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment. I love feedback!
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