Ratatouille

Recipe for  Ratatouille

My kids are huge fans of the movie  and the dish Ratatouille both.

After watching this awesome Disney movie  on our movie night  I and my  boys have been craving ratatouille from last week so we decided to finally make it on this weekend . This movie is so adorable and has inspired my boys to get in the kitchen and help me.

What is Ratatouille?

Ratatouille is a French veggie cuisine using summer vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, and tomato. A classic French dish that brings together our vegetables. Ratatouille is usually served as a side dish, but can also be served as a main dish when accompanied by rice or bread. These colorful vegetables makes ratatouille filling, making it a complete meal on its own. 

What do you serve with Ratatouille?

Here are a few Suggestions

1.  Serve with crusty bread on the side. 
2.  Serve with  pasta is common.
3.  Leftovers make a great breakfast. Just add cooked eggs  or scramble them.
4. Serve as  an appetizer by topping it  onto toasted baguettes.
5.  Pair your ratatouille with a bowl of steamed white rice for a nourishing lunch or dinner.
6.  You can opt for quinoa  too.
7.  Simply cook brown rice for accompanying ratatouille .

 Ingredients which are used to make ratatouille

Fresh Tomatoes - Fresh tomatoes are key for making an irresistible tomato sauce. You can  also make fresh sauce at home  by cooking fresh tomato purée  along with garlic and fresh basil  in olive oil. I tried this recipe with store brought marinara sauce and it did  taste awesome. It saved my little bit of time .

Eggplant - No need to peel eggplant before you cook it. Just have to slice them.

Zucchini & Yellow Squash - I personally like this combination of green zucchini and yellow squash. If you want to use two of one type instead of both will also do.

Olive  oil - It helps us achieve those delicious caramelized edges. Finally, stirring a teaspoon of olive oil into it offers some extra flavor. 

Fresh Basil & Seasonings - Finish ratatouille with a handful of chopped basil, which  adds to fresh flavor. I was running out of fresh basil but used the dried basil instead  and trust me it’s not bad too 😀

This dish would also be a good one to bring to a pot luck or to the office.  It’s a delight to eyes and taste. The key is to find all of the vegetables about  almost the same size. My recipe to make a simple Ratatouille dish  was so quick just cut the vegetables , my boys like to stack it and help me before  we put them in the sauce , add the spices and  it is ready to go in oven. My Boys  love to add cheese to almost anything. It is funny how they eat almost any vegetable when cheese is on it. 😄
This pretty looking dish will turn vegetable haters into lovers.

How does Ratatouille taste?

Like most foods, Ratatouille is an acquired taste. One of the key ingredients in the ratatouille is tomatoes. If you like tomatoes, and things prepare with tomatoes, you will most probably end up liking it. Since the base is the Marinara sauce that infuses the most flavor in the recipe apart from the olive oil and fresh basil. Make Ratatouille for a get-together or potluck parties.

Tips for making the Perfect Ratatouille

Try to cut your zucchini, squash, and eggplant into uniformly sized pieces. This will ensure that all the vegetables cook at the same rate. Baking time may increase if your slices are thicker.

Is  Ratatouille  healthy to eat?

Yes, ratatouille is healthy! It’s made up of all vegetables, so it’s full of nutrients and vitamins. 

How to make  Ratatouille

Ingredients

• 1 cup marinara sauce 
• 2 medium tomatoes(optional)
• 1 medium Italian eggplant 
• 1 medium zucchini/sliced
• 1 medium yellow squash/ sliced
• 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 3 Tbsp. fresh basil 
• Salt, Chili flakes, Italian seasoning and Pepper to your taste
• Cheese to spread on top

Instructions

1) On a mandolin, adjustable-blade slicer or with a very sharp knife, cut the eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash into very thin slices, almost all the veggies approximately about 1/4 inch thick.

2) Pour marinara sauce into a baking dish and spread it evenly.

3) Make stacks of the sliced vegetable. Arrange the sliced veggies in alternating patterns, 
Place them into the dish in a spiral, from the outer edge to the inside.

4) Make the herb seasoning: In a small bowl, mix together the basil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Olive oil. Spoon the herb seasoning over the vegetables.

   7. Cover the baking dish with foil and Bake for approximately 45 minutes, until vegetables have released their liquid and are clearly cooked, but with some structure left so they are not totally limp. Then uncover the pan and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve warm with cheese on top, alone, or with some crusty bread or your choice of serving.

Servings - 5 
Total time -  1hr 30 min