Giardiniera is an Italian preparation of marinated vegetables that has many uses. This Chicago Style Hot Giardiniera Relish uses diced vegetables and ample hot peppers to create a tangy and spicy topping for sandwiches, hot dogs, and more.
One final difference between Italian giardiniera and Chicago giardiniera is how they are eaten.
While the traditional Italian giardiniera is served as a salad or appetizer, in Chicago it is more common to find giardiniera used as a condiment.
Giardiniera is wonderful on sandwiches, bratwurst and hot dogs, and even eggs and pizza.
You can even use it to top bruschetta or mix it with pasta for a quick pasta salad!
But you can’t talk about Chicago style giardiniera without talking about their MOST common use: a topping for Italian beef sandwiches. The tangy vegetables are the perfect contrast to tender and juicy pulled beef.
If you’ve never tried one, you need to head on over to our slow cooker Italian beef recipe and get one on your menu soon!
Ingredients :
The First Day
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
- ½ red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- ½ onion, diced
- ½ c green olives (pitted, with pimento if desired), diced
- 2 c water
- ¼ c salt
The Second Day :
- 2 serrano chiles, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ c white vinegar
- ½ c vegetable oil*
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions :
The First Day :
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Chop all the vegetables to a small dice. Place the vegetables (except the chiles) in a large bowl with a lid.
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Mix 2 cups of water with ¼ c salt, stirring until the salt has dissolved. Pour the salt water over the vegetables.
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Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The Second Day :
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Drain the vegetables and rinse them well. Place the vegetables in a large jar (quart size works well.)
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Add the chiles, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, vinegar, and oil to the vegetables. Mix well.
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Taste your mix and add salt and pepper, if desired.
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Cover the mixture and let marinate on the counter for up to 2 days.
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After marinating, refrigerate the giardiniera until you are ready to use it.