Everyone loves themselves comfort food from time to time, even the great food critic Anton Ego form Pixar's "Ratatouille." Since our podcast last week, this, and next will all be focused on Pixar's films, it seemed only fitting that you enjoy it with your own dish of the classic ratatouille recipe.
This recipe is vegetarian, so it's great as a meal on its own or you can have it as a delectable side to some grilled chicken or fish. It's nice and easy, no expert rat chef required. Make it while you listen along to Geeky Gab's Pixar rankings. Try not to cry as you remember all the emotions Pixar makes us feel, and soothe your tears with some delectable comfort food that would make even the coldest of critics melt.
Here's our recipe for our Emotional Band-Aid Ratatouille, Bon Appetit!
Ingredients:
1 Eggplant (a long, narrow eggplant will be easier to work with than a large, fat one), thinly sliced
1 Yellow Squash, thinly sliced
1 Zucchini, thinly sliced
1 Red Bell Pepper, cored and thinly sliced
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, cored and thinly sliced
2 Red Potatoes, thinly sliced
½ Large Onion, chopped
6 ounces of Tomato Paste
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
¾ cup Water
¼ cup Minced Garlic
1 teaspoon fresh Thyme leaves or seasoned to taste
½ teaspoon Dill or seasoned to taste
1 tablespoon Ricotta cheese
Get a 10 x 10 inch ceramic or glass dish that can go in the oven and has sides that are at least 3 inches tall. The side of the dish need to exceed the sides of the squash and other ingredients when sliced. A casserole dish will be perfect for this.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread the tomato paste on the bottom of the casserole or baking dish.
Sprinkle the chopped garlic and onion on top of the layer of tomato paste.
Stir in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.
Add ¾ cup of water while stirring and stir until the mixture is completely mixed at the bottom of the dish.
Slice the vegetables thinly. The thin slices should be about the width of 1/8th of an inch or ½ a centimeter. It's best if you can get the slices close to the same diameter, about 1 to 2 inches. It looks more visually appealing and also balances the taste when they are cute to all the same size. Don't feel like you have to do this, though.
Arrange the thin slices of veggies (eggplant, squash, zucchini, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper) in alternating order. You can spiral it like they did in the movie, or just put them in rows. The type of dish you use will lend to which design will be easiest for you to do. A round dish will be easier to spiral, a rectangle dish will be easier to do rows.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil on top of the alternating, stacked veggies.
Season with 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves or to taste.
Season with ½ teaspoon of dill or to taste.
Cover dish with parchment paper (or wax paper) that is cut to fit inside the casserole dish. You do not want it to hang over the edges and risk falling off.
Bake in the oven (375 degrees F) 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender and roasted. There will be distinct coloration on the veggies when they are roasted. They will appear darker, but not burnt.
When done, remove from oven and let cool. Serve with a tablespoon of ricotta cheese for additional flavor and/or pair with grilled protein such as chicken or fish.
Enjoy with friends, family, and rats alike!