This Homemade Giardiniera Recipe is one of the easiest things you can make and keep stocked in your fridge. Just chop your veggies, pour a warm quick pickle brine over them, and let the refrigerator do the rest.
It’s crisp, tangy, a little spicy if you want it to be, and so much better than anything you’ll find in a jar at the store. Use it on salads, hot dogs, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, or anywhere you want a hit of bright, pickled flavor.
If you are looking for another pickled recipe, try these easy pickled red onions.
Make ahead
minimal prep
Quick Look: Giardiniera
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🌶 Servings: 12 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 21 calories
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Just prepare a quick pickle brine on the stove!
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: Vinegar, mustard seeds, and veggies of choice
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Very easy and fast!
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Rebecca left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Made recipe as written and it was delicious!! As suspected the sugar just takes off the edge/sharpness of vinegar and it doesn’t come across as sweet at all. I wouldn’t make any changes and… on top of everything else… It’s beautiful.”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You can get creative – You can mix up veggies and spices for a new twist every time you make this recipe!
- It gets more flavorful with time – The longer the veggies sit in the pickled brine, the more flavorful they get!
- Makes for a good gift – This giardinera recipe is not only super flavorful, but it looks pretty when the pickled vegetables are packaged up in a glass jar, making it a great gift for loved ones!
For another topping idea, try this salt and vinegar hummus.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make this giardiniera recipe. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
- Carrots, Cauliflower, Red Bell Pepper, Celery – These are the veggies I typically use, but feel free to switch it up. Cloves of garlic and olives are other great additions.
- Vinegar – I like to use plain white distilled vinegar for this recipe because it tastes very neutral, but you can use any type of vinegar that you like. Red wine vinegar or even apple cider vinegar will add a subtle sweetness to the recipe.
- Salt, sugar, mustard seeds – Adds flavor to the pickled brine
- Jalapeños – Optional for spice, can also use serrano peppers
On a pickle kick? Try this fried pickle dip as another fun condiment or dip for your next gathering.
How to make this Giardiniera Recipe
Step 1: Prepare a quick pickle brine by pouring water, vinegar, salt, sugar and mustard seeds into a sauce pan. Boil over medium-high heat until the mixture boils.
Step 2: Cut and arrange the veggies in the jars. Add sliced jalapeños to the jars if you want your giardiniera to be slightly spicy.
Step 3: Spoon the mustard seeds from the brine over the chopped veggies. Then, pour the slightly warm pickle brine over the chopped veggies in the glass jars.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Giardiniera Recipe 🌶
- Adjust spiciness and flavors to your liking – In place of jalapeños you can use a pinch of red pepper flakes. You can also add things like bay leaves, fennel seeds and black peppercorns to the brining liquid to alter the flavor of this giardiniera recipe.
- Chop finer if serving on sandwiches or hot dogs – Finely minced giardiniera is a very popular topping for hot dogs and sandwiches. If you want to serve this on a hot dog or sandwich, chop it up into smaller pieces before serving.
For another topping or dip, try this creamy black bean corn dip with lime and taco seasoning.
Recipe FAQs
What do you use giardiniera for?
It is great as a condiment for sandwiches and hot dogs, as an addition to charcuterie boards or antipasto platters, or as a topping for salads or dips. It is very versatile!
How long does giardiniera last?
This recipe should be good for up to a month when stored in the fridge.
Why is giardiniera so spicy?
This recipe has some heat when the jalapenos are added, but feel free to omit if you do not want it to be spicy.
Storage
Allow the giardiniera in the pickle brine to cool completely. Then, store in the fridge for up to a month.
The vegetables will get softer and the pickle flavor will be stronger the longer they are in the refrigerator.
Other Summer Vegetable Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Easy Giardiniera Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large carrots
- 1/2 a head of cauliflower
- 1/2 a red bell pepper
- 3 stalks of celery
- 1 jalapeño – optional
- 1 cup vinegar
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp mustard seeds
Instructions
- Pour vinegar, water, salt, sugar, and mustard seeds into a sauce pan. Heat over medium-high heat until the mixture boils.
- As soon as it boils, stir the mixture gently and turn off the heat. Allow the mixture to cool slightly on the stove while you prep the veggies.
- Chop the cauliflower head into small florets, slice the carrots and celery on a diagonal into slices, slice the bell pepper and jalapeño (if desired). Arrange the veggies in three 2 cup wide mouth jars.
- Spoon the mustard seeds from the brine into each jar. Pour the slightly warm brine over the veggies.
- Allow them to cool completely at room temperature. Then, place the lid on the jars and place in the fridge. They will continue to pickle in the fridge so let them sit for at least 24 hours before consuming.
Recipe Notes
- I like to use a 2 cup wide mouth canning jar to store this giardiniera recipe. Personally, I don’t like to use narrow mouth jars because it can be harder to arrange the raw chopped veggies properly.
- In place of jalapeños you can use a pinch of red pepper flakes. You can also add things like bay leaves, fennel seeds and black peppercorns to the brining liquid to alter the flavor of this giardiniera recipe.
- Finely minced giardiniera is a very popular topping for hot dogs and sandwiches. If you want to serve this on a hot dog or sandwich, chop it up into smaller pieces before serving.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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