Fermented Giardiniera Food

GIARDINIERA

Steps:

• Toast bay leaf and peppercorns. Combine vinegar, olive oil, salt, sugar, pepper flakes, and oregano in a pot and bring to a simmer. Add bay leaves and peppercorns. Steep 5 minutes.
• Strain bay leaves and peppercorns. Reserve liquid. Place vegetables in a 1 quart container. Pour liquid over vegetables and let sit for two days before using.

FERMENTED GIARDINIERA: ITALIAN PICKLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Wash and prepare all the vegetables as instructed.
• Mix the vegetables and salt in a large bowl.
• Divide the vegetables between 2 quart-sized jars. Add in the herbs. Everything should be tightly packed in, and it's easiest to do this by hand.
• Pour water into the jars, making sure all the vegetables are below the brine. Use a weight to keep the vegetables submerged.
• Leave the jar to ferment in a dark location (a kitchen cupboard is perfect) for 3-7 days. See the section above for advice on how to safely ferment giardiniera for up to 6 months.

GIARDINIERA PICKLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Prep work: Chop all the fresh produce into small bite pieces. Cut the serrano chiles in half. Drain the green olives. Set out 4 pint jars.
• To each jar add: 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 smashed garlic clove, 1 bay leaf, ½ - 1 serrano pepper, ½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon celery seeds, ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds, ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds.
• Divide the cauliflower, sliced carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and olives between the four jars. Fill them to the top.
• Set a medium saucepot over high heat. Add the water, vinegar, salt, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Stir well, then carefully pour the boiling brine into each jar.
• Allow the pickled vegetables to cool at room temperature. Then cover with a lid, shake, and refrigerate for 36-48 hours before serving.

FERMENTED GIARDINIERA

Steps:

• Prepare brine by dissolving the salt in water.
• Mix all the ingredients except the brine in a large bowl.
• Add them to the Fermenting Vessel of choice (check description above) packing them down as you go.
• Fill each jar with the brine, leaving 1½ -2 inches of headroom-the space at the top, between the rim of the jar and the top of the vegetables. Weight the vegetables so they are completely submerged in the brine.
• Cover the top of the vessel with a lid, coffee filter, paper towel, cheese cloth, or tea towel to keep bugs out and odors inches.
• Be sure to secure towels with a very tight rubber band or the ring from the canning jars.
• Place the jar out of direct light.
• Ferment at room temperature 4 days before checking the flavor. If you prefer the flavor more sour, continue fermenting.
• If to your taste transfer the jars to the refrigerator.
• Burp the jars once daily (to release any built-up gasses) the giardiniera does continue to ferment while in the refrigerator.
• This doesn`t need to be done in my home because we help ourselves to it daily.

HOW TO MAKE FERMENTED GIARDINIERA

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together, except the salt, and pack into a 1/2 gallon-sized jar.
• Tamp down the vegetables to make sure they are packed into the jar tightly.
• Sprinkle salt into jar on top of the vegetables.
• Add water to just cover the vegetables, but do not fill the jar to the top.
• Place a weight on top of the vegetables and put a lid on the jar. (See video.) Place jar in a bowl to catch any overflow during the fermentation process.
• Place jar in an undisturbed warm area and check vegetables each day. If using a traditional jar lid and not a "pickle pipe," unscrew lid every day to "burp" the jar and allow the carbon dioxide to be released.
• After two days, begin to taste the vegetables to see if they are to your liking. Remember to always use clean utensils, and do not reinsert any utensils back into the jar if they have been used in your mouth.
• Once the ferment is to your liking, remove the weight, put a storage lid on the jar, and refrigerate. The Giardiniera will stay fresh in the refrigerator for approximately 6 months.

GIARDINIERA

Steps:

• Bring the vinegar, sugar, 1 tablespoon salt, the bay leaves, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the cauliflower, fennel, red onion, carrots and garlic. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Let the vegetables cool in the brine, then refrigerate until chilled. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

HOMEMADE HOT GIARDINIERA

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.