Monday, May 10, 2010

Giardiniera: Hot Or Mild?

Ahhh, the age old question ... hot or mild?

Maybe not as compelling as blond or brunette, but a quandry nonetheless ...

Giardiniera is available in two heat levels (generally).  Mild means just that ... no heat level whatsoever.

Hot, on the other hand, is made with hot peppers, which is where the heat comes from.  Some manufacturers use serranos, some use jalapenos.  Actually all sorts of hot peppers are used and experimentation is common place.

We have a soft spot for hot giardiniera because we like a little heat, but mild giardiniera is excellent as well.  And how "hot" is the giardiniera?  Well, that depends on your taste buds, but for the majority it's a slight smoldering heat that complements the food vs. overwhelming it.

On occasion you'll see Extra Hot, which is usually reserved for those with a death wish.  Not really, but yeah, it's really hot.  Scotch Bonnet peppers are used in the Extra Hot, and they're one of the hottest peppers on the planet.  

No comments:

Post a Comment