Giardiniera - Mixed vegetable pickle
This is my version of a mixed vegetable pickle. There are some regions where the vegetables you put in the mix are a very specific combination but, I say add whatever you like the best. This is my preserved vegetable pickle often called Giardiniera in Italian. You can add some chili peppers to make spicy and it is a combination of vinegar and olive oil, in my case..... lots of GREAT Extra Virgin Olive Oil!! You will need: 3 small carrots 2 stalks of celery 1/3 of a small cauliflower (about 3 cups of florets when they are separated) 150 grams or a handful of green beans 3-4 fresh or dried small onions (I used both) 1 sweet red pepper 125 grams of eggplant cut into strips and salted for at least 30 minutes 2 chilies - I used a milder Fresno chili which was hot enough for me- you add whatever you prefer! 1/2 small bulb of fennel 3-4 cloves of garlic sliced thinly 1 cup white wine vinegar (I used champagne vinegar) 15 peppercorns couple of big bay leaves 2 tsp of salt 1 cup of water
