Hot Italian Giardiniera

Name: Hot Italian Giardiniera Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 3 stalks celery, chopped; 2 medium carrots, chopped; 1/2 head cauliflower, chopped into small florets; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1 medium onion, diced; 6 jalapeños, sliced; 1/4 cup kosher salt; cold water, to cover; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 cup olive oil; 1/2 cup white wine vinegar; 1 cup green olives, sliced

Hot Italian giardiniera is a spicy pickled vegetable condiment made with fresh celery, carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers, and jalapeños in a tangy vinaigrette. This homemade version delivers authentic crunch and heat that elevates sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie boards.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Giardiniera 🏷️Pickled vegetables 🏷️Italian 🏷️Spicy Condiment

🏷️

🏷️Sandwich topping

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TikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

6

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$28–$46

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

3 stalks celery, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1/2 head cauliflower, chopped into small florets
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium onion, diced
6 jalapeños, sliced
1/4 cup kosher salt
cold water, to cover
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1 cup green olives, sliced

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Instructions

1
Chop celery, carrots, cauliflower, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion. Place all chopped vegetables in a large bowl.
2
Add the sliced jalapeños and kosher salt to the bowl.
3
Pour cold water over the vegetables until they are fully submerged.
4
Cover the bowl and let the vegetables soak overnight in the refrigerator.
5
The next day, thoroughly drain and rinse the vegetables.
6
In a separate large bowl, combine the minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes.
7
Pour in the olive oil and white wine vinegar, then add the sliced green olives. Stir to combine the vinaigrette.
8
Add the drained vegetables to the bowl with the vinaigrette.
9
Toss everything together until the vegetables are well coated.
10
Transfer the giardiniera into jars for storage.
11
Seal the jars and refrigerate for at least 2 days before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Salt the vegetables first and let sit briefly to draw out excess moisture, which prevents a watery brine and ensures crisp texture.
Keep the brine cold and pour it over cooled vegetables to preserve crunch and bright color.
Mince garlic finely so it distributes evenly throughout the jar; larger pieces can become soft over time.
Slice jalapeños uniformly and leave seeds in for maximum heat, or deseed for a milder, briny flavor.

Substitutions

Red bell pepper → yellow or orange bell pepper (no change to flavor, milder sweetness)
Jalapeños → serrano peppers (slightly hotter and thinner-walled) or peperoncini (pre-pickled, use fewer)
Kosher salt → sea salt (use same amount by weight, not volume)
Cauliflower → broccoli florets (may soften slightly faster)