Giardiniera sounds kind of like a made-up dish that would be served at a nationwide chain of Italian-American restaurants. To the best of our knowledge, it is not. It is, however, a food with Italian roots that has been adapted by Americans. So, what is giardiniera? Let’s get into it.

Short answer: Pickled vegetables. Slightly longer answer: There are two types of giardiniera. Italian giardiniera refers to vegetables pickled in vinegar and originated as a method for preserving the bounty of a big harvest. Chicago-style giardiniera is a medley of chopped vegetables—most commonly, cauliflower, carrots, bell peppers, celery, and chile peppers—joined together and preserved in a two-step process: First, they're pickled vinega and then they're marinated in olive oil. Chicago-style giardiniera, which likely has origins with the wave of late 19th century Chicago, is most often eaten as a condiment (like on the classic Chicago sandwich, the Italian beef), whereas Italian-style is most commonly served straight-up as part of an antipasto platter.