Not just for hot dogs and muffuletta sandwiches, add this giardinera to your burgers, nachos, pizzas, pasta salads and anything else your heart desires!Ā This homemade giardiniera recipe is simply the best and once you’ve tried it you’ll be HOOKED for life!
How To Make Giardiniera
Giardiniera, pronounced “jar-din-air-ah”, is one condiment you don’t want to be without. Ā And once you’ve tried it you’ll understand why.
Originating in Italy, these pickled vegetables were introduced to Chicago in the late 19th century by Italian immigrants and took their place as arguably the city’s most popular condiment. Ā It’s used on practically everything! Ā You name it, giardiniera is just what you need to bring your hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, nachos, antipasto platters and pasta salads to life. Ā In Chicago you’ll even commonly find it served on pizzas and, of course, no Italian beef sandwich is complete without it.
Have you been to New Orleans? Ā Giardiniera is the magical ingredient in those mouthwatering muffuletta sandwiches.
In short, giardiniera is the ultimate pickled vegetable relish!
The popularity of giardiniera has continued to explode in Chicago with more than a million pounds of it being sold annually. Ā Still it remains relatively unknown outside of the Windy City except among those with strong Italian roots.
So if you’ve never heard of or tried it before, now is your chance to make some absolutely delectable homemade giardiniera that will bring new life and flavor to your favorite foods!
I’m also including recipes for canning giardiniera so you can store it long-term to enjoy all year round.
You can chop the veggies however large or small you prefer. Ā In Italy the vegetables are usually left in fairly large pieces and that way it’s also more versatile. Ā Left in larger pieces you have the flexibility of serving the giardiniera with your charctuerie/antipasto platters and when you want to use it for sandwiches, hot dogs, pasta salads, etc, you can simply diced up the finished giardiniera into smaller chunks.
But left large or diced small, you are simply going to LOVE this giardiniera!
Let’s get started!
Chop up the veggies and place them in a large non-reactive pot or bowl.
If you’re wondering how to get the crinkle-cut carrots, use a mandolin slicer that has that ability.
Pour 1/4 cup kosher salt over the vegetables.
Pour enough water over the vegetables to cover them.
Let them soak in the salt water for at least 6 hours or overnight. Ā This step is critical for drawing out excess water from the vegetables which would otherwise dilute the vinegar brine and lead to spoilage.
To prepare the jars, place the spices into each of the jars.
I like to make some batches hot and some mild. Ā Do that by using or omitting red chili flakes. Ā For a true Chicago-style giardiniera you’ll want to make it hot!
Thoroughly rinse and drain the vegetables before dividing them up between the jars. Ā Pack the vegetables in as tightly as you can.
Place the garlic each jar.
Now we’re making a vinegar solution to pickle the vegetables.
To play it safe Cooperative Extension Service sourcesĀ recommend a 1:1 ratio of vinegar to water. Ā Some other recipes may have a lighter vinegar brine but if you’re planning on storing your giardiniera for more than 2 weeks, we recommend this ratio to create enough acidity to prevent the risk of unwanted bacteria.
Bring the water, vinegar and salt to a boil.
Pour the boiling brine over the vegetables leaving a little more than 1/2 inch headspace from the top.
Pour the olive oil over the top.
Wipe the rims with a wet paper towel and seal the jars.
If you plan on using the giardiniera within two weeks let the jars sit at room temperature for a day or two and then transfer them to the fridge.
If you’re canning the giardiniera for long-term storage, seal the jars with the lids and rims and prepare a boiling water bath. Ā Boil the jars for 10 minutes. Ā Carefully remove the jars and let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours before moving them.
Adjustments for high altitudes:
- At 1,001 to 6,000 feet (305 to 1,829 meters) above sea level: increase processing time by 5 minutes.
- Above 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) above sea level: increase processing time by 10 minutes.
If processed in the water bath, the giardiniera is best consumed within 6 months but will keep for at least a year.
**NOTE:Ā If you’re canning the jars for long-term storage it is critical to be sure you thoroughly wipe the rims of the jars to ensure no oil residue is on them, otherwise they will not seal properly.Ā Alternatively, you can omit the oil during canning and add it later to your giardiniera when you open the jar.
Enjoy!
PIN ME!
For more great pickled veggie and relish recipes be sure to try our:
- Dill Pickle Relish
- Sweet Pickle Relish
- Sweet Corn Relish
- Sweet Pepper & Onion Relish
- English Pickled Onions
- Pickled Beets

BEST Homemade Giardiniera (Hot or Mild)
Ingredients
- 1/2 head cauliflower, chopped into small florets
- 10 ribs celery , diced
- 5 carrots , diced
- 2 large red bell peppers , seeded and chopped
- 1 cup sliced green pitted olives
- 4 serrano peppers (or more according to heat preference) , sliced
- Spices/Ingredients for EACH pint jar:
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional, for hot giardiniera)
- 1/8 teaspoon celery seeds
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 clove garlic, cut in half
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- For the Brine:
- 4 cups white wine vinegar
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Place the chopped veggies a large non-reactive pot or bowl. Pour 1/4 cup kosher salt over the vegetables and enough water to cover them. Let the vegetables soak in the salt water for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- To prepare the jars, place the spices into each of the jars, reserving the garlic and olive oil until after the brine is added. (I like to make some jars hot and some mild by adding/omitting the red chili flakes).
- Thoroughly rinse and drain the vegetables before dividing them up between the jars. Pack the vegetables in as tightly as you can. Place a clove of garlic (cut in half) in each jar.
- To make the brine: Bring the water, vinegar and salt to a boil. Pour the boiling brine over the vegetables leaving a little more than 1/2 inch headspace from the top. Pour a tablespoon of olive oil over the top in each jar. Thoroughly wipe the rims with a wet paper towel, ensuring no oil or other residue is on them, and seal the jars.
- If you plan on using the giardiniera within two weeks let the jars sit at room temperature for a day or two and then transfer them to the fridge. The flavor only gets better with time so wait at least 2-3 days before eating it. Will keep refrigerated for 2 weeks.
- If you're canning the giardiniera for long-term storage, seal the jars with the lids and rims and prepare a boiling water bath. Boil the jars for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the jars and let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours before moving them.If processed in the water bath, the giardiniera is best consumed within 6 months but will keep for at least a year.**IMPORTANT NOTE:Ā If you're canning the jars for long-term storage it is critical to be sure you thoroughly wipe the rims of the jars to ensure no oil residue is on them, otherwise they will not seal properly.Ā Alternatively, you can omit the oil during canning and add it later to your giardiniera when you open the jar.
Notes
- At 1,001 to 6,000 feet (305 to 1,829 meters) above sea level: increase processing time by 5 minutes.
- Above 6,000 feet (1,829 meters) above sea level: increase processing time by 10 minutes.
Sheila says
How do you change the recipe to make 1 large jar instead of several jars?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Sheila, simply put everything, including all the spices you would have put into individual jars, into one large jar instead.
Renee says
Can you dice up the vegetables to make it more like a relish? Or will that change the recipe as far as how long to put in water or canning time?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Renee, yes you can and no, there is no need to alter anything else about the recipe or the canning time.
Robert Prazeres says
hello, I subscribe to your site, I have done a few of your recipes…
I have a slight correction for you, about it not being well known outside of Chicago or that you are Italian… & that’s not true…
I am Portuguese & living in N.J. since 1970, & this Giardiniera is something that I am familiar since being a child & from overseas… it is served a lot in our ethnic restaurants & our homes all the time as an accompaniment to a meal or as a starter plate with olives, ( etc )… except we spell it with a ” J ” Jardeneira… I love to can & I look forward to trying out this recipe…take care..
Patty says
I want to make this Giardiniera , but in quart jars. Do i double up on the seasoning ?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Patty, you can put the giardiniera in whichever size jars you prefer without having to alter anything about the ingredients. If you double the recipe you’ll need to double all of the ingredients, including the seasonings.
Wendy says
Do you refrigerate the veggies or leave on counter to soak
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Wendy, if it’s room temp I leave it out on the counter.
Josey says
Do you leave the veg in salt water sit at room temp?
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Josey, yes I do.
Josey says
Thanks! Excellent recipe!
Michael says
This was fun to make. My only question after finishing was the brine. I had about half of the original amount left over after making 5 pints. I am wondering if I overpacked the veggies. My finished jars did look just like the photo, however.
Kimberly Killebrew says
Hi Michael, how much brine is leftover depends on how tightly you pack the jars and what size of jars you use. As long as the brine is covering the veggies in the jars you’re good to go. Happy eating! :)