FOOD NEWS
Giardiniera Is The Briny Ingredient Your Tomato Sauce Should Have
By Ashlyn Frassinelli
There are a lot of ways to upgrade a basic tomato sauce, and adding an unexpected ingredient like giardiniera offers a little something extra to jazz it up and make it stand out.
Giardiniera is a pickled relish mix with Italian roots, containing a medley of various vegetables and a briny, hot flavor that will pack a punch when added to your tomato sauce.
A cup of drained hot or mild giardiniera, chopped and mixed into homemade or premade tomato sauce, adds a complex combination of tart, vinegary, salty, and vegetable-y flavor.
Although tomatoes can be fairly acidic, adding something tart, such as vinegar, to a tomato-based sauce is a common way to enhance its flavors.
The vegetables in giardiniera can also add an undeniable freshness and texture, providing a crisp bite that breaks up the smoothness of the tomato sauce.
So, whether you buy a jar of giardiniera or make your own, the crunchy, tangy relish can add a satisfying dimension to your tomato sauce or other tomato-based dishes.