Before moving to Chicago we didn’t have much of an opinion on Giardiniera, but it’s a pretty big deal in this town so we've been schooling ourselves. As homework, I bought a bottle of "Tuscan Gardens" giardiniera at Aldi and made "Focaccia Giardiniera" -- a fancy sounding name for focaccia with giardiniara spread on the dough before baking.
I made this on the fly to go with tonight's dinner and was only able to snap a quick photo before my ravenous wolf came home from dance practice. Sorry about all the shadows etc, but a bad picture is (usually) better than no picture. Okay, maybe not. Anyhow, this comes together quickly if you have a stand mixer and dough hook. For best results, measure your flour with a scale or stir and aerate and then spoon into the cup.
Instant Pot Giardiniara
Update: We moved to North Carolina and I have not yet found a really great brand of giardiniera. Just for fun, I sometimes make it in the Instant Pot. I don't have one particular Instant Pot giardiniera recipe yet because I change it so often, but you can find one pretty easily with a Google search.
Recipe
Focaccia Giardiniera
Ingredients
- 375 grams bread flour 2 ¾ cups to 3 cups
- 1 packet instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves
- 1 cup very warm 120 degrees water
- 3-4 tablespoons olive oil
- Your favorite giardiniera I used Aldi’s Tuscan Garden for this one
Instructions
- Put the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and rosemary in the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add the water, 3 tablespoons of the oil and rosemary and stir with a heavy duty scraper until blended. It should be raggedy and just a bit on the dry side, but not falling-apart dry.
- Attach the dough hook to the stand mixer and let the mixer knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Put the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large bowl. Put the dough in the bowl and roll it around so that it’s coated in the oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in bulk (about an hour).
- While dough is rising, line a 12x17 or larger rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick foil.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Punch down dough and press it into a large slab (about 16x8) directly on the lined baking sheet. Let it sit for about 20 minutes to rise a bit, then spoon a thin layer of giardiniara (try to let the oil drain off first) across the dough. Using the handle of a wooden spoon, punch some dimples in your dough.
- Bake on center rack for about 20 to 25 minutes or until golden, then let cool slightly before serving.
Angie says
I love giardinaria! Both of my parents came from Sicily and we make it and keep it in jars. I love it on just about everything!
Sue says
I've never had or heard of Giardineria but it sounds like something I would love. Especially on focaccia or on pizza.
Anna says
Leela, I hope you try this. I've been making a tomato version as well using sun dried tomato pesto.
Sonya, I took it with my daughter's camera. Hers camera phone is a little better than mine. If I'd taken it with my camera phone it would be awful because I still haven't upgraded.
Sonya says
Your "bad" photo looks like all of my "normal" photos ha-ha. So what did you think of the taste?
Leela says
I'm making some tomato and plain right now!
I've never thought of putting giardiniera on top. I usually put it inside my focaccia sandwiches.
Anna says
And speaking of "Italian Section", that is one of the best things about Chicago -- Italian food! Secretly, I think the real reason we moved here was for the Italian food. Nance, let me know if you try the focaccia. Obviously, you could spread it on any focaccia dough recipe before baking. Another thing I might try is baking it into pretzel bread, but that might be weird. Maybe I'll start with a small section.
Nance Koning says
Like you before moving to Chicago i'd never heard of giardiniera, to me it was only the pickled cauliflower I'd find in the italian section. Now its as if I can't eat a pizza without it, and it has to be cooked with the pizza not put on after the fact. It really makes a difference. Since yesterday was national pizza day I had an italian beef pizza with giardiniera.
Then I saw this today and had a DUH moment, i've not acquired a taste for Chicago pizza but the giariniera at least makes it so I can eat a slice.
Its so simple to think I could have made this ages ago but sometimes there are things you just have to say DUH why didn't I think of that........