Boost the Flavor of Your Tomato Sauce with Giardiniera
Key Highlights :
Tomato sauce is a classic partner to pasta that uses few ingredients, and can be a bit bland. However, you can easily boost the flavor of your tomato sauce with a special Italian condiment – giardiniera. This pickled relish mix with Italian roots contains a medley of various vegetables, and its briny, sour, and sometimes hot flavor packs an enormous punch when served alongside other dishes or added to sandwiches, condiments, and, yes, tomato sauces.
Giardiniera is available in Italian or Chicago varieties. The Italian version was originally a method for preserving produce through the winter and consists of large pieces of vinegar-pickled vegetables that are traditionally served on antipasto platters. The Chicago-style giardiniera, usually a rough-chopped mix of bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower, celery, olives, and chile peppers, is pickled in vinegar and then stored in olive oil. It is particularly popular as a condiment topping for the city's famous Italian beef sandwiches, Italian subs, and even its iconic deep-dish pizza. Most retail brands are available in mild and hot versions, with the hot varieties containing more chile peppers.
A cup of drained hot or mild giardiniera, chopped (if desired) and mixed into homemade or premade tomato sauce, adds a complex combination of tart, vinegary, salty, and vegetable-y flavor that's hard to replicate with any single ingredient. The vegetables in giardiniera also can add an undeniable freshness and texture, providing a crisp bite that breaks up the smoothness of the tomato sauce.
Adding giardiniera to tomato sauce is a fairly common way to not just contribute a pop of flavor, but also enhance other flavors already in the dish. The crunchy, tangy relish can add a satisfying dimension to pasta sauce, sandwiches, pizza, antipasto, and a variety of tomato-based dishes. As well as adding giardiniera to tomato sauce, try including it the next time you make a salad, soup, or even chili.
When it comes to making a flavorful tomato sauce, giardiniera is your secret ingredient. Whether you buy a jar of giardiniera or make your own, you'll be able to create a delicious tomato sauce with complex flavor that will make your next plate of pasta stand out.
