Ratatouille Recipe Mary Berry Food

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.

RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Cut the aubergines into quarters lengthways, then cut the quarters into 2.5cm/1in slices. Cut the courgettes into 2.5cm/1in slices. De-seed the peppers and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
• To peel the tomatoes, score a cross in the base of each tomato and place them in a heatproof bowl. Pour over enough boiling water to cover and set aside for one minute. Drain and, when cool enough to handle, peel away the skins. Roughly chop the flesh.
• Heat the oil in a flameproof casserole dish and add the onions. Cook over a gentle heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown and very tender. Add the aubergines and courgettes, increase the heat slightly and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the peppers, garlic, sugar, some salt and pepper and half the basil and mix well. Cover and cook over a very gentle heat for 20 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes to the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes. Scatter the ratatouille with the remaining basil and serve.

MARY BERRY'S FRENCH SLOW-ROAST LAMB WITH RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• 1. You will need a large, deep roasting tin. Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7. 2. For the rub, put the thyme, paprika and oil in a small bowl, mix well and season. Make holes in the joint of lamb with a small sharp knife and spread the rub all over it. Insert the garlic slivers into the holes and season the lamb with salt and pepper. Put the lamb in a large roasting tin and add the onions around and underneath. Roast in the oven for about 40 minutes. 3. Lower the oven temperature to 160°C/140°C fan/Gas 3. Scatter the peppers and aubergine around the lamb. Pour the tomatoes into a bowl, add the stock, sun-dried tomato paste, thyme, bay leaves and honey, then stir to combine. Pour all this into the roasting tin over the peppers and aubergine and stir, then sprinkle the paprika over the vegetables. 4. Cover the whole tin with foil and return to the oven to roast for about 4 hours until the lamb is tender and falling off the bone. 5. Shred the meat or carve into slices. Drain any fat from the top of the sauce and serve with the ratatouille vegetables alongside.

RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Cut 2 large aubergines in half lengthways. Place them on the board, cut side down, slice in half lengthways again and then across into 1.5cm chunks. Cut the ends off 4 small courgettes, then across into 1.5cm slices.
• Peel 2 red or yellow peppers from stalk to bottom. Hold upright, cut around the stalk, then cut into 3 pieces. Cut away any membrane, then chop into bite-size chunks.
• Score a small cross on the base of each of 4 large ripe tomatoes, then put them into a heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over, leave for 20 secs, then remove. Pour the water away, replace the tomatoes and cover with cold water. Leave to cool, then peel the skin away.
• Quarter the tomatoes, scrape away the seeds with a spoon, then roughly chop the flesh.
• Set a sauté pan over medium heat and when hot, pour in 2 tbsp olive oil. Brown the aubergines for 5 mins on each side until the pieces are soft. Set them aside.
• Fry the courgettes in another tbsp oil for 5 mins, until golden on both sides. Repeat with the peppers. Don't overcook the vegetables at this stage.
• Tear up the leaves from the bunch of basil and set aside. Cook 1 thinly sliced medium onion in the pan for 5 minutes. Add 3 crushed garlic cloves and fry for a further minute. Stir in 1 tbsp red wine vinegar and 1 tsp sugar, then tip in the tomatoes and half the basil.
• Return the vegetables to the pan with some salt and pepper and cook for 5 mins. Serve with basil.

EASY RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Dice the aubergine, courgette and pepper into 3cm chunks. Heat the olive oil in a large casserole or deep frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the onion for 10 mins until soft and translucent. Add the chopped veg, turn the heat to high and fry for another 10 mins until softened.
• Stir the garlic into the pan, and toss everything together, frying for 1 min more. Tip in the chopped tomatoes, plus half a can of water (200ml), the dried herbs and the chopped basil. Simmer for 20 minutes on a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the veg is tender and the tomatoes are thick and coating the veg. Season and add the vinegar and sugar to balance the sweet and acidity of the tomatoes. Scatter with the basil leaves, and serve with rustic bread, or pasta.