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A delicious and beautiful way to use summer produce, this Ratatouille can also made ahead so it's perfect for entertaining.
It's been an exciting, busy week here at The Café - with three little girlies and their "mum" visiting grammy and papa - all the way from London. I've been doing a lot of cooking and have had some wonderful sous chefs, but setting up and taking pictures of the food, well, that's another story.
Knowing I would want to enjoy every minute possible with my girls was exactly why I saved a fabulous recipe that my sister, Annie sent me several weeks ago; a delicious Ratatouille, combining fabulous seasonal produce into a mouthwatering summer meal.
Annie wrote and said - This has become a favorite of ours, really delicious and I love that you can make it a day ahead and bake it just before your guests come. When you put it in the metal ring molds and then unmold it onto the plate it looks so professional. Really pretty and so good for you too!
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 yellow and 1 red bell pepper charred, peeled, seeded and ribs removed
- 1 poblano pepper and 2 chili peppers charred, peeled and seeds and ribs removed
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence
- sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 yellow squash sliced in 1/16 inch rounds
- 2 zucchini sliced in 1/16 inch rounds
- 2 Japanese eggplant sliced in 1/16 inch rounds
- 6 roma tomatoes sliced into 1/16 inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped
- sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- grated Parmesan cheese
- chopped fresh basil
- aged balsamic vinegar
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Directions:
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Heat oil and butter in a medium size saucepan. Sauté onion, carrots and celery for 10 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Add minced garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in peppers, crushed tomatoes, Herbs de Provence, salt and pepper. Continue cooking for 20 minutes.
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Pour sauce in to baking dish. Arrange vegetables around in circular pattern (see photo). Sprinkle top with seasoning oil. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 280 for 3 hours. Cool and refrigerate overnight.
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Bake for 45 minutes at 350˚F before serving. Sprinkle with the fresh basil, grated Parmesan and a drizzle of the aged balsamic.
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