An Italian or Italian-American pickled salad, Giardiniera is made up of an array of vegetables. The vegetables are pickled in a vinegar and oil mixture. Giardiniera usually contains carrots, celery, zucchini, and cauliflower in varying proportions..

Giardineria is commonly found in grocery stores which carry brands such as Pastene and Progresso, or at local Italian markets or delicatessens who make their own. A blend of pickled vegetables, Giardineria is also simple to make at home where you can customize the vegetables and the seasonings to your taste.

The Italian word "Giardiniera" roughly translates into English as "from the garden."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPjsmTwI8BM

The basic Italian-American version of Giardineria includes onions, celery, zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower in a red or white wine vinaigrette. The Chicago variation of the recipe tends to be more spicy.http://thepauperedchef.com/2009/03/giardiniera.html The vegetables found in Chicago Giardiniera vary slightly, and generally include serrano peppers, bell peppers, olives, celery, pimentos, carrots, and cauliflower.

1. The mixture is popular along with Chicago-style beef sandwiches, sausage sandwiches, French Dip sandwiches and pastas.
2. Giardiniera can also be served as a topping for pizza.http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hot-Italian-Giardiniera/Detail.aspx
3. A scoop of Giardiniera is a common ingredient on a composed antipasto platter.