Giardiniera is an Italian or Italian-American relish of pickled vegetables in vinegar or oil.
Varieties and uses
Italian giardiniera is also called "sotto aceti", which means "under vinegar", a common term for pickled items. It is typically eaten as an antipasto or with salads.
In the United States, giardiniera is commonly available in traditional or spicy varieties, the latter which is sometimes referred to as "Hot Mix".
In Chicago, giardiniera is used as a condiment, typically used as a topping on Italian beef sandwiches.
A milder variety of giardiniera is used for the olive salad in the Muffuletta sandwich.
Ingredients
The Italian version includes onions, celery, zucchini, carrots and cauliflower. The pickled vegetables are in red- or white-wine vinegar.
American giardiniera is commonly made with serrano peppers along with combination of assorted vegetables, including bell peppers, olives, celery, pimentos, carrots, and cauliflower, and sometimes crushed red pepper flakes, all marinated in vegetable oil, olive oil, soybean oil or any combination of the three. It is also common to see it pickled in vinegar.
