Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables)

Step 1

Get ready. Place the washed, sliced vegetables in a large mixing bowl.

Step 2

Make the pickling liquid. In a saucepan or pot large enough to hold all the vegetables, combine the white wine vinegar, distilled vinegar, and water. Stir in the salt and sugar and set the pot over medium heat. Once the salt and sugar have dissolved, raise the heat to medium-high and bring the brine to a boil. Let the liquid boil for 3 full minutes.

Step 3

Briefly hot-pickle the vegetables. Turn off the heat and carefully add the vegetables. Cover and let steep for 1 minute. Then use a large spider or skimmer to scoop the vegetables back into the mixing bowl. Reserve the brine.

Step 4

Ready your seasonings. In a small bowl, add the peppercorns, red pepper flakes, cloves, juniper berries. Crumble in the bay leaf with your hands and toss to combine. Divide the spice mix among the three pint-sized jars.

Step 5

Add the vegetables. Pack the vegetables into the jars. Take care to add a mix of each vegetable to each jar and pack them in as tightly as you can. Pour the brine over the vegetables, leaving about 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch of space at the top. Spoon 1 tablespoon of olive oil into each jar and screw the lids on tightly. Gently turn the jars upside-down and upright again once or twice to encourage the ingredients to mingle. Let the jars sit upright at room temperature for 24 hours.

Step 6

Store: Place the jars in the refrigerator and enjoy for up to 3 months. For maximum flavor, let the giardiniera sit for a week before using.