The Bizalions Ratatouille Recipes

RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Trim off the ends of the eggplant and zucchini. Do not peel. Cut each into cubes measuring about one inch or slightly larger. There should be about nine cups of eggplant cubes and six of zucchini.
• Peel the onions and cut into one-half-inch cubes. There should be about one and one-half cups.
• Core, seed and devein the green peppers, and cut them into one-inch pieces. There should be about two and one-half cups.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy casserole and add the eggplant and zucchini. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, over high heat until the vegetables start to brown, about five minutes.
• Add the onions, green peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring, over high heat, about two minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, and stir to blend. Add the bay leaf, thyme and capers. Add salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and cover closely. Reduce the heat and let simmer 30 minutes. Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat.

THE BEST RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the bell peppers, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and the bell peppers have softened slightly, about 10 minutes. Add the eggplant, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the zucchini and continue to cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring often, until the zucchini has softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the ratatouille has reached a thick stew-like consistency, about 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and basil with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into a bowl and sprinkle with more fresh parsley and basil before serving.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, parsley, oregano and garlic. Puree in food processor or blender. Set aside.
• Remove stems from eggplant and cut in half lengthwise. Rub some of the oil mixture over the cut surfaces.
• Cut peppers in half; remove stems, veins and seeds. Coat with oil mixture.
• Cut onions into slices 1/2 inch thick; coat with oil mixture.
• Trim stems from zucchini and coat with oil mixture. Trim stems from tomatoes and toss with oil mixture.
• Grill vegetables over a low-medium charcoal fire. The cherry tomatoes will cook very quickly; remove before they turn to mush. The peppers, onion and zucchini should be lightly colored and barely tender. The eggplant should be soft.
• When vegetables have cooled, cut all but tomatoes into smaller pieces (leave tomatoes whole). Put in bowl.
• Add the vinegar, basil, salt and pepper and toss. Marinate vegetables 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or overnight in refrigerator. To serve, return to room temperature.
• When ready to serve, adjust seasonings. Additional olive oil may be necessary.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Spread eggplant slices on large plastic cutting board. Slice zucchini lengthwise 1/2-inch thick. Spread on cutting board. Dust vegetables with salt. Set aside 30 minutes, turn, dust with salt again and set aside 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
• Meantime, light grill to very hot. (Vegetables can also be cooked under a broiler.) Place pepper pieces skin side down on grill and grill until skin blackens. Put in paper bag. Place onion slices on grill and sear on both sides. Remove and chop in 1/2-inch pieces.
• Brush eggplant and zucchini with about 2 tablespoons oil. Grill until seared. Chop in 1/2-inch pieces. Skin pepper and chop in 1/2-inch pieces.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet or sauté pan. Add garlic and sauté over medium heat until starting to color. Add onion and pepper, and sauté 5 minutes, stirring. Add eggplant and zucchini; sauté 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, thyme leaves, half the basil and lemon zest. Sauté 5 minutes, stirring. Season with salt and pepper.
• Fold in pine nuts, remaining basil and additional oil, if desired. Serve, or cool to room temperature.

RATATOUILLE A LA MINUTE

Steps:

• Cut the yellow squash and zucchini crosswise into slices 1/4 inch thick. There should be about 2 cups of each.
• Cut the tomatoes into 1-inch cubes. There should be about 3 cups loosely packed.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet, and add the zucchini and yellow squash. Cook, stirring and tossing so the pieces cook evenly, about 3 minutes. Add the onion, garlic and jalapeno pepper, and toss to blend.
• Add the thyme, bay leaf, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stir to blend, and cook, tossing and stirring, about 3 minutes. Add the basil and stir. Remove the bay leaf. Turn the mixture into a warm dish, and serve hot.

LA RATATOUILLE NICOISE

Steps:

• Heat 4 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the eggplant, and cook over high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes, until the eggplant is very lightly browned and tender and has started to release some of the oil it absorbed back into the pan. Remove the eggplant, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Add the zucchini, reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until it is moist and fairly tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the zucchini, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Add the peppers and 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the peppers have begun to soften. Add the onion, and continue cooking until the onion is tender and golden. Stir in the garlic and tomatoes, and cook about 2 minutes longer. Add the bay leaves, thyme and basil.
• Add the eggplant and zucchini to the pan, and cook all the ingredients together, stirring gently, about 5 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat, and fold in the remaining olive oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Place all of the ingredients in one large pot or two small ones. Mix contents to distribute seasonings.
• Cover and cook over low heat, just below simmer, for 45 minutes. Ratatouille is cooked when vegetables are soft. Drain well and divide in half.

GRILLED ASIAN RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill. Remove stems from the eggplant, and slice on a sharp slant to make fairly large, 1/2-inch-thick slices. Core, seed and quarter the pepper. Remove stems from the zucchini, and cut them lengthwise into 4 slices. Grill the vegetables until they are browned, then dice into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Heat the peanut or grapeseed oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, ginger and garlic, and cook over medium-low heat until they are tender. Add the diced grilled vegetables and the tomato, and cook, stirring gently with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes. Add the oyster sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Cook, stirring, a few minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Fold in the scallions.
• Sprinkle with cilantro and serve hot or at room temperature, as a first course or side dish.