Romanian Ratatouille Food

ROMANIAN RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F
• Cut the eggplant into large dice, sprinkle lightly with salt and set aside for at least half an hour, then rinse and squeeze out excess moisture.
• Meanwhile, plunge the tomatoes into boiling water, then rapidly into cold. Skin and chop them.
• Roughly chop the fresh herbs, onion, garlic, white of leek, scallions and green pepper.
• Soften the chopped onion and garlic in half the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add the eggplant, leeks, green pepper, dill and half the parsley, and cook for a few minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the bay leaves, tomatoes, lemon zest, tomato paste and sugar and stir again. Pour over the remaining oil and transfer, if necessary, to an ovenproof casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid.
• Cook in the oven, tightly covered, for 11/2 hours or until perfectly tender. This magnificent vegetable mixture can be served hot, garnished with the remaining herbs, but it shows off its flavours best when cold.
• Try it with cold chicken or turkey, or warm cornbread.

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.

CLASSIC FRENCH RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Rinse and dice the aubergines (eggplants). Place in a colander, sprinkle with salt. After 1 hour, rinse under running water and blot dry with paper towels.
• Peel and thinly slice the onions and garlic (remove the growing tip from the garlic). and fry lightly in olive oil, in a deep cooking pan, over medium heat. After a few minutes, add the diced aubergines.
• Rinse the peppers, remove the seeds and membrane and cut into fine strips. Add to the pan when the onions and aubergines are nicely browned. Add the thyme and rosemary sprigs, and season with salt and pepper.
• Peel the tomatoes and remove the seeds (I omit this step). Chop roughly.
• Rinse but do not peel the courgettes (zucchini) and cut into evenly sized pieces. Add the tomatoes and courgettes about 20 minutes after the seasoning, stir the contents of the pan and continue cooking until the vegetables have released their juices and begin to break down.
• Remove the herbs and adjust the seasoning before serving.