Ratatouille

[Tealc]

This dish works best if you have a dutch oven. A medium baking dish works well too, but there's just something about the ceramic vessel that makes it so much better.

Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini, sliced into thin rounds
1/2 medium onion, rough chop
1 yellow squash, sliced into thin rounds
1 eggplant, sliced thinly
4 roma tomatoes, peeled and diced
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 head garlic, minced
2 tbsp herbs de provence (can substitute with a mix of thyme and rosemary leaves)
1 tbsp kosher salt
1/2 tbsp white pepper (or 1 tbsp black pepper)
2/4 cup oz chicken or vegetable stock (I prefer chicken because I like the flavor. Use vegetable stock if you're going full vegetarian with this dish)
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus 3 tbsp EVOO
***optional*** 16 oz mascarpone cheese

Pre-heat oven to 375

Method:
-Over medium heat, heat the 2 tbsp EVOO, then add the tomatoes, onions, garlic, tomato paste, stock, salt and pepper, combine thoroughly
-Cook until onions become translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
-Remove from heat, let cool for 3 minutes
-Layer vegetables starting from the outside in a concentric circle until it covers the bottom completely
-Sprinkle with 3 tbsp EVOO, then the herbs de provence, plus a touch more s&p
-Cover and bake for 45-50 minutes, until veggies are tender
- ***optional*** serves with dollops of mascarpone cheese

[Tealc]

Related video: How to do a tomato concasse. It's a great skill to have for many reasons, but especially for ratatouille.

[Tyrnall]

A mandolin makes the prep for this way easier to do. I have https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000 ... UTF8&psc=1 and it's pretty great for slicing anything. Use the guard.

[Lynxo]

Nice. May I suggest pulling out a 1/2 cup of stock and replacing it with the same amount of a cab or merlot? Just another layer of flavor.

Just a note since the last time I was on these forums, I got divorced, married again and I'm now an Executive Chef and never have time for games like this.... and I miss it. *sigh*

[Maruda]

Hey man, long time. Where ya cooking at?

[Lynxo]

Glenmoor Country Club in NE Ohio. It's all fancy and stuff. lol It's also 70+ hrs a week