Grilled Asian Ratatouille Food

GRILLED NEW ZEALAND LAMB RACK WITH ASIAN RATATOUILLE, SHOESTRING POTATOES, AND ROASTED GARLIC INFUSED JUS

Steps:

• In a small dry skillet, heat the peppercorns over medium heat until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Quickly grind the peppercorns just until broken up. In a large bowl, add the ground peppercorns, mustard, soy sauce, thyme, garlic, shallots, and oil. Mix, add the racks, and turn to coat them. Marinate in the refrigerator, turning occasionally, at least eight hours or better, overnight.
• Prepare an outdoor grill, or preheat the broiler. Season the lamb with the salt and ground pepper and grill over high heat, or broil turning once, until brown and crispy, 12 to 15 minutes for medium-rare.
• Cut each cooked rack in half, and arrange so that the bones of the halves are interlaced. Alternatively, cut the racks into double chops.
• Place a mound of the Asian Ratatouille on a large platter and stand the racks or chops against it. Place a small amount of the Citrus Fennel next to the chops. Sauce with the Garlic Jus and drizzle everything with the Fennel Oil. Place the Shoestring Potatoes on top of the lamb and finish with the tomatoes and the chives.
• Place the eggplant, zucchini, and squash in 3 separate pans. Season with salt and let rest for 1 hour to allow the moisture to be released. Pat the vegetables dry. Prepare a saute pan coated with 1 tablespoon of oil over high heat. Add 1/2-teaspoon garlic, 1/2-teaspoon ginger, and the eggplant and saute until the eggplant is golden brown. Season with ground black pepper. Set aside. Repeat this process for both the zucchini and the squash. Then in a saute pan over medium high heat, cook the onion, remaining garlic, and ginger for 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and thyme and continue to cook for another 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Add the eggplant, zucchini, squash, Thai basil, basil, and soy sauce. Adjust the seasonings, being careful not to over salt, as the julienned vegetables received salt in the preliminary steps.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the fennel, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, canola oil, shallots. Season with salt and pepper.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the oil, and prepared fennel seeds and turmeric. Let stand 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare an ovenproof saute pan over high heat. Add the oil, shallots, and garlic. Place the pan in the oven and roast for 10 minutes, turning occasionally to prevent burning. Remove the pan from the oven and return to the medium heat on the stove-top. Deglaze the pan with the wine, the balsamic vinegar, and Chinese vinegar, and then, reduce. Add the chicken stock, thyme, and further reduce by 1/2. Season the reduced sauce and then strain to remove the garlic and shallots.
• Julienne the potatoes or using a sharp knife, cut them into thin strips. Fill a fryer or medium heavy pot 1/3 full with the oil and heat over high heat to 350 degrees F. Add the potatoes to the oil and fry until light brown, about 6 minutes. Drain on a paper towel and keep at room temperature.
• When ready, heat oil to 425 degrees F and re-fry the fries until golden brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

SUNNY'S EASY GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Heat a grill to 350 degrees F. (Or preheat the oven on its lowest temperature setting.)
• Make a large aluminum foil pouch and add the tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, Italian seasoning, paprika, a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Gently toss together and then tightly close the aluminum pouch.
• Place the pouch over the indirect heat area of your grill (or in the oven on the lowest setting). Cook, picking up the pouch with tongs and tossing 2 to 3 times while cooking, until everything sounds soft inside, anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes depending on the cooking method.
• Pour the aluminum pouch contents into a large bowl. Add the lemon zest and a spritz of lemon juice and toss. Taste and season with salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Sprinkle over the parsley and serve.

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:

• Preheat grill to medium-high.
• Place all cut vegetables and the tomatoes in a large shallow baking dish, add the 1/2 cup of olive oil, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place the vegetables on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time. Remove the tomatoes, cover grill, and cook the remaining vegetables for 2 minutes, or until almost cooked through. Transfer vegetables to a cutting board and coarsely chop (leave tomatoes whole). Place the chopped vegetables and tomatoes in a large bowl, add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic, oregano and parsley and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve at room temperature.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat.
• Put the tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and onion on the grill and cover. Grill the tomatoes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred, 5 to 6 minutes. Grill the zucchini, eggplant and onion, turning every 5 minutes, until lightly charred and tender when poked with the tip of a small, sharp knife, 15 to 20 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, chop all of the vegetables except the onion into bite-size pieces and add to a medium bowl. Chop the onion finely and add to the bowl. Fold in the oil, basil, parsley, thyme, garlic and 1 tablespoon salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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.