Preserving series: Vegetable Antipasto

This is a delicious antipasto made with all the late summer vegetables. Enjoy it all winter as a side dish or simply with crossing or crackers!

Recipe name: Vegetable Antipasto (adapted from Bernardin)

Local produce: assorted vegetables and herbs

Preserving method: water bath canning or freezer

Yield: 7 x 500 ml jars

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Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) coarsely chopped carrots, about 4 medium

2 -1/2 cups (625 ml) green beans cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces, about 400g

2- 1/2 cups (625 ml) cauliflower florets, about 1/2 medium head

2 cups (500 ml) coarsely chopped onion, about 2

2 cups (500 ml) coarsely chopped green pepper, about 2 medium

2 cups (500 ml) coarsely chopped red pepper, about 2 medium

1- 1/2 cups (375 ml) coarsely chopped peeled eggplant

2 cups (500 ml) coarsely chopped, zucchini

2 cups (500 ml) lightly packed brown sugar

3 tbsp (45 ml) pickling salt

2 cups (500 ml) red wine vinegar

3 cans (each 5 1/2 oz/156 ml) tomato paste

2 tbsp (25 ml) hot pepper sauce

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp (45 ml) dried basil or a bunch of fresh basil, shredded

2 tbsp dried oregano or a bunch of fresh chopped

DIRECTIONS: • Place 7 clean 500 ml mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat to a simmer (180°F/82°C). Set screw bands aside. Heat SNAP LID® sealing discs in hot water, not boiling (180°F/82°C). Keep jars and sealing discs hot until ready to use. • Prepare and measure carrots; set aside. • Prepare and measure remaining vegetables; set aside. Prepare eggplant last due to rapid browning.

• In a large, deep stainless steel saucepan, combine sugar, salt, vinegar, tomato paste, and hot pepper sauces and garlic. Stirring frequently, bring to a boil over medium-high heat. • Add prepared carrots to wet mixture and let boil 2 minutes. Add remaining vegetables, basil and oregano. Stirring frequently, bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat; boil gently for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. • Ladle into a hot jar to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of top of jar (headspace). Using nonmetallic utensil, remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if required, by adding more antipasto. Wipe jar rim removing any food residue. Centre hot sealing disc on clean jar rim. Screw band down until resistance is met, then increase to fingertip tight. Return filled jar to rack in canner. Repeat for remaining antipasto. • When canner is filled, ensure that all jars are covered by at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. Cover canner and bring water to full rolling boil before starting to count processing time. At altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m), process –boil filled jars – 25 minutes.* • When processing time is complete, remove canner lid, wait 5 minutes, then remove jars without tilting and place them upright on a protected work surface. Cool upright, undisturbed 24 hours; DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands. • After cooling check jar seals. Sealed discs curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool , dark place.

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