This giardiniera features 4 vegetables in a sweet and sour pickle, prepared by hand with freshly-picked ingredients. The secret to a perfect giardiniera lies in picking the vegetables at the same time. I Contadini grow red and yellow peppers, fennel, carrots, and cauliflowers in summer, harvesting them in October and November. Their artisanal preparation, starting with fresh produce, preserves the authenticity of farming traditions: each vegetable is selected, cleaned, and hand-cut before being stored together in a delicate sweet and sour pickle with cider vinegar. This meticulous process is why Gambero Rosso has named this giardiniera among the best in Italy.
The large slices allow you to taste the crispness of freshly-picked vegetables, made lighter by the oil-free preparation. Perfect for salads, cold first courses, or as a contrast to spicy cold cuts.
Producer: I Contadini
Region: Lecce, Puglia
Size: 550g
Producer Info: The "I Contadini" farm is a third generation family business based in the Puglia region of Italy. Puglia is known for its excellent growing climate for all sorts of grains, olive trees and vegetables. I Contadini utilises this optimal climate to grow wonderfully flavorful vegetables for their preserves and spreads, made with their grandparents' recipes. Simply translated, 'I Contadini' is Italian for 'the farmers' or 'the peasants.' The farmers' lives exist within 30 hectares of land where they grow a variety of vegetables on the open field, including peppers, eggplant, artichokes, olives, and tomatoes. The company operates all aspects of the business: growing the produce, naturally drying vegetables in the hot Italian sun, and preparing the jars for retail. The drying of the vegetables in the sun is an ancient practice and now almost totally abandoned. This is a shame as the delicate practice delivers a totally unique result in the produce: perfect aromas, aesthetic appearance, and texture coupled with the conservation of essential vitamins, proteins, and minerals.
