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Mediterranean Diet Recipe: Italian Giardiniera

Italian Giardiniera

Leda Scheintaub
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Fermenting Time 5 days
Total Time 5 days 20 minutes
Calories 161 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small to medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 4 cups)
  • 1 small red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
  • 1 small yellow or orange bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
  • 1 large carrot, thinly sliced
  • 1 large stalk celery, thinly sliced
  • 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp. dried oregano
  • 1 to 2 tsp red chili flakes
  • 1/2 tsp celery seeds
  • 1 1/2 quarts Basic Salt Brine 1.5 Liters

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the brine. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart (2-liter) jar or crock or two 1-quart (1-liter) jars. Pour enough brine over the vegetables to cover them with at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of space remaining at the top. Place a glass filled with water or a small ramekin with a rock placed in it that fits snugly into your jars and press down on it until the brine rises over the level of the vegetables.
  • Place the jar on a rimmed plate (a glass pie plate works nicely) to catch any potential overflow, cover with a clean dish towel to keep out insects, and set aside in a cool place away from sunlight to ferment.
  • After 2 days, check your vegetables, removing mold if any develops (don’t worry if you don’t get all of the mold; you’ve created an anaerobic environment in which it is almost impossible for bad bacteria to take root). When you check your vegetables, occasionally taste one to see how far they’ve fermented and decide if they have soured to your liking.
  • Your gardiniera will be ready in 4 to 5 days, depending on the season and kitchen temperature and how tangy and crunchy you like it. Remove the weight, cover, and place in the refrigerator, where it will keep for about 6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 6gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 41400mgPotassium: 1023mgFiber: 14gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 17796IUVitamin C: 202mgCalcium: 353mgIron: 8mg
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