Best 4 Chicago Style Hot Giardiniera Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Chicago-style hot giardiniera is a pickled relish that is commonly served as a condiment on Italian beef sandwiches, hot dogs, and other Chicago street food. It is made with a variety of vegetables, including carrots, celery, bell peppers, and cauliflower, which are pickled in a vinegar solution with spices. The resulting relish is tangy, spicy, and flavorful, and it adds a delicious kick to any dish.

This article provides three different recipes for Chicago-style hot giardiniera, each with its own unique flavor profile. The first recipe is a classic giardiniera, made with a combination of vegetables and spices. The second recipe is a spicy giardiniera, which includes a variety of hot peppers for an extra kick. The third recipe is a sweet giardiniera, which uses a combination of sweet and savory spices to create a more balanced flavor.

No matter which recipe you choose, you are sure to enjoy this delicious and versatile condiment. So grab a jar of Chicago-style hot giardiniera and start experimenting!

Let's cook with our recipes!

CHICAGO-STYLE HOT GIARDINIERA



Chicago-Style Hot Giardiniera image

I've been living in Chicago for the last 12 years and have grown to love the spicy giardiniera served at restaurants. So I developed my own to use at home. We love it on everything from eggs to sandwiches and even pizza! -Andrea Quiroz, Chicago, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 30m

Yield 8 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 small head cauliflower, broken into small florets (about 5 cups)
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
4 jalapeno peppers, sliced
4 serrano peppers, sliced
1/2 cup salt
1 cup white vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup canola oil
1 jar (10 ounces) small pimiento-stuffed olives, drained

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, toss cauliflower, celery, carrot and peppers with salt. Add cold water to cover. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Drain vegetables; rinse with cold water and drain again. In a large nonreactive bowl, whisk vinegar, garlic, oregano and pepper flakes. Gradually whisk in oil until blended. Add olives and drained vegetables; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, overnight to allow flavors to blend., Transfer mixture to jars. Cover and refrigerate up to 3 weeks.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 80 calories, Fat 8g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 174mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

HOMEMADE HOT GIARDINIERA



Homemade Hot Giardiniera image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Time 16h20m

Yield 3 to 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 10

1/4 cup table salt
1 cup small-diced carrots
1 cup tiny cauliflower florets
4 to 8 serrano peppers, sliced (depending on heat level desired)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 stalk celery, diced small
1 red bell pepper, diced small
2 cups canola oil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Combine 2 cups water and the salt in a glass or non-reactive bowl. Mix until the salt is dissolved. Add the carrots, cauliflower, serranos, garlic, celery and bell pepper to the salt water and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Day 2, drain and rinse the vegetables. In a clean bowl, mix together the oil with the oregano and pepper. Add the vegetables and mix to combine. Allow to marinate overnight. Giardiniera will only get better with time. After 2 days at the most in the bowl, you can place in air-tight mason jars and keep in the fridge for at least 2 to 3 weeks.

CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOG GRILLED CHEESE



Chicago-Style Hot Dog Grilled Cheese image

Whenever I travel to Chicago, I can't even get out of the airport before hitting up Gold Coast Dogs. The old-fashioned Chicago-style hot dog with neon green relish, the vinegary glory of a giardiniera, the heat of a banana pepper, fresh tomato, and poppy-seed bun--not to mention the snap of a good hot dog--lures me every time. Well, this grilled cheese has all of that and more--in this case, cheese. This one is for you, Second City!

Provided by Eric Greenspan

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h20m

Yield 4 sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 22

12 ounces Swiss cheese, sliced or grated
8 slices poppy-seed bread
2 carrots, peeled and cut into small dice
1/2 head cauliflower, cut into tiny florets
1 celery stalk, cut into small dice
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into small dice
3 oregano sprigs
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup kosher salt
2 cups olive oil
10 jarred banana peppers, stemmed and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chopped sweet dill pickles
2 shallots, roughly chopped
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 drops blue food coloring (if neon green is your desired look!)
One 12-ounce bottle of your favorite beer
Two 8-inch-long all-beef hot dogs, halved lengthwise and then crosswise
8 tomato slices
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, for finishing

Steps:

  • To make the giardiniera, combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve the salt. Transfer to a heatproof bowl, let cool, and then let marinate in the liquid until serving. (The giardiniera will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)
  • To make the relish, combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped and incorporated.
  • To cook the hot dogs, in a saucepan, combine the beer and hot dogs and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from the heat and let the hot dogs cool in the beer. On a charcoal or gas grill or a stove-top grill pan, sear the hot dogs over high heat, turning as needed, until lightly charred.
  • Line up half of the bread slices on a work surface. Top each slice with 1/8 of the cheese, 3 tablespoons pickle relish, 1/2 hot dog (2 pieces), 1/4 cup drained giardiniera, 2 tomato slices, and another 1/8 of the cheese. Close the sandwiches with the remaining bread slices.
  • Line a large platter with paper towels. In a skillet over high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Turn down the heat to low, add 1 sandwich, and cook, turning once, for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until browned and crisp on both sides and the cheese is melted. Transfer to the prepared platter to blot the excess grease. Repeat with the remaining butter and sandwiches.
  • Cut the sandwiches in half, plate, and serve.

HOT ITALIAN GIARDINIERA



Hot Italian Giardiniera image

This is Italian giardiniera. It is wonderful on Chicago style Italian beef sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, French dips, pastas or even as a pizza topping. You can even snack on it as is if you choose. Once you taste it you will figure out what you prefer to use it on.

Provided by PHONETEK

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Relish Recipes

Time P2DT2h45m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 green bell peppers, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
8 fresh jalapeno peppers, sliced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
1 small onion, chopped
½ cup fresh cauliflower florets
½ cup salt
water to cover
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 (5 ounce) jar pimento-stuffed green olives, chopped
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup olive oil

Steps:

  • Place into a bowl the green and red peppers, jalapenos, celery, carrots, onion, and cauliflower. Stir in salt, and fill with enough cold water to cover. Place plastic wrap or aluminum foil over the bowl, and refrigerate overnight.
  • The next day, drain salty water, and rinse vegetables. In a bowl, mix together garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and olives. Pour in vinegar and olive oil, and mix well. Combine with vegetable mixture, cover, and refrigerate for 2 days before using.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 232.7 calories, Carbohydrate 5.9 g, Fat 23.5 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 1.2 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 305.9 mg, Sugar 2.8 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right vegetables: Use a variety of vegetables for a flavorful giardiniera. Common choices include carrots, celery, cauliflower, green beans, and bell peppers. You can also add other vegetables like onions, garlic, and fennel.
  • Cut the vegetables uniformly: Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces so that they cook evenly. This will also help them absorb the pickling liquid more evenly.
  • Use a good pickling liquid: The pickling liquid is what gives giardiniera its distinctive flavor. Use a combination of vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and spices. You can also add other flavorings like mustard seeds, celery seeds, or red pepper flakes.
  • Let the giardiniera pickle for at least 24 hours: The longer the giardiniera pickles, the more flavorful it will be. Let it pickle for at least 24 hours, but up to 2 weeks, before eating.
  • Use giardiniera as a condiment: Giardiniera is a versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's great on sandwiches, tacos, hot dogs, and burgers. You can also add it to salads, soups, and stews.

Conclusion:

Chicago-style hot giardiniera is a delicious and versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes. It's easy to make at home, and it's a great way to use up leftover vegetables. So next time you're looking for a new condiment to try, give Chicago-style hot giardiniera a try. You won't be disappointed!

Related Topics