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Mildly spicy, this delicious homemade Quick Hot Giardiniera recipe is the condiment you need to add zesty flavor to sandwiches, hot dogs, muffuletta’s and more! So easy to make with a handful of fresh ingredients you already have in your kitchen. You’ll never buy it at the store again!

Giardiniera in a blue and white bowl with a bay leaf on the side.

The big game is just around the corner and me, a self professed commercial watcher, is insanely giddy with excitement because that means I can make all the snacks.

So, this year I’m whipping up a few things that you should be adding to your list….they’re all insanely easy like this Slow Cooker Chicken Cheesesteak or these Everything Bagel Spiced Pigs in a Blanket. And this easy to make Chicago Style Hot Giardiniera recipe.

It’s so good and let me tell you something about this quick Giardiniera recipe, it reminds me of one I had at Eataly in New York that was served with a melty cheese concoction, it was a raclette, we devoured in about 3.2 seconds flat in Eataly’s rooftop restaurant. This Chicago Style Hot Giardiniera recipe takes me right back to that moment.

Simple Ingredients Make It Easy

Chicago Style Giardiniera is commonly made with sport peppers but since they’re not widely available I added sliced serrano peppers to my recipe. You can also use sliced jalapenos since they’re easier to find.

Here is what you need to make Giardiniera:

  • Vinegar – White vinegar or distilled vinegar is standard in most pickling recipes. You can substitute with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar for a hint of sweetness.
  • Sugar – I go for the granulated white sugar for pickle recipes but you can mix up a richer flavor by substituting with brown sugar or coconut sugar.
  • Vegetables – A mix of fresh cauliflower florets, celery ribs, Serrano peppers, carrots and red bell peppers are the classic blend of veggies for a Chicago-style giardiniera. For a mild giardiniera, omit the Serrano peppers.
  • Olive Oil – Extra Virgin Olive Oil adds a heartiness to the giardiniera mix. If you prefer, you can substitute with avocado oil. If you love olive flavor, you can mix in a cup of chopped green olives to the mix, as well.
  • Seasoning – I season simply with kosher salt, black pepper, bay leaves and Italian Seasoning. You can up the spice favor by sprinkling in ground cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Giardiniera with a bay leaf in a blue and white bowl on a distressed wood backdrop.
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How to Make Giardiniera

You’re not going to believe how easy it is to make this Quick Giardiniera recipe (also known as refrigerator giardiniera), it’s ready in about an hour but the longer it sits the better the flavors are.

My quick pickling method is the same one I use for all my pickled veggies which takes the overnight soaking process out of the equation.

  1. Simply bring the vinegar, water, sugar and spices to a boil in a large pot over medium high heat.
  2. Add the fresh vegetables, garlic cloves and continue to boil for 5 minutes then allow them to steep in the pickling liquid for another 10 minutes.
  3. Transfer the vegetable mixture to canning jars or a large glass bowl. Add the vinegar brine to the vegetables
  4. Season with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and more crushed pepper, if you’d like.
  5. Easy peasy!

I use it chopped up finely for these easy Muffuletta Sandwiches or as part of an antipasto platter, too!

Close up of pickled vegetable giardiniera in a blue and white bowl.

What is Giardiniera

Giardiniera is a blend of pickled vegetables commonly found in Italian cuisine. Chicago Style Giardiniera is known to be spicy because of the addition of hot peppers in the mix. 

Giardiniera is used to top sandwiches, pizzas, hot dogs and more lending a tangy, pickle-y bite to often rich dishes. It’s simply magical.

My easy to make Hot Giardiniera recipe is fantastic on pizza! (yeah, that’s right!) It’s also fantastic chopped up and served on crackers with melted cheddar, or just serve it in a bowl to add to your next Italian inspired charcuterie board.

I especially love it mixed into these Italian Style Roasted Pork Sandwiches or to top Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwich…..and who can blame me!?!? It adds the most interesting puckery, pickle-y flavor and the spice is total perfection with the rich pork. If you don’t like heat, you can leave out the spicy peppers.

Giardiniera in a blue and white floral bowl with a white napkin in the background.

More easy Quick Pickle Recipes

And if you’re looking for more homemade condiments to share at your next bash definitely try this easy Homemade Ketchup….yeah, homemade ketchup! It’s easier to make than you think and will take your next burger to epic proportions. You’ll never go back to the bottled stuff again.

pickled vegetable giardiniera in a blue and white floral bowl.

Our favorite Cauliflower Recipes right here!

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Giardiniera Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 2 quarts
Mildly spicy Hot Giardiniera Recipe is ready in under an hour with this quick pickling method. The perfect condiment for everything!

Equipment

  • 1 canning jar
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 head cauliflower, but into bite sized florets
  • 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • 4 serrano peppers, thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced small
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions 

  • In a large saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, sugar, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper and bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Add the garlic, cauliflower, celery, serrano peppers, carrots, and bell pepper to the saucepan. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off and all the vegetables to continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes or until they are crisp tender.
  • Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Drain the vegetables and transfer to a large bowl.
  • Toss the vegetables with the olive oil, reserved cooking liquid, salt and pepper. Transfer to jars or an airtight container. 
  • Refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Notes

Hot Giardiniera can be made up to 3 weeks in advance and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. 

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal, Carbohydrates: 33g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 727mg, Potassium: 691mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 22g, Vitamin A: 12980IU, Vitamin C: 112.9mg, Calcium: 123mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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3 Comments

  1. Kas says:

    I made this for my husband yesterday and he declared it restaurant-level delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!

    1. Kellie says:

      Yay! Thank you for your comment!

  2. Ivory says:

    Ths looks amazing, and I love eating it in a bun with italian beef.