Southwestern Ratatouille Food

RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare the vegetables: Smash and peel 3 garlic cloves, reserving the 4th. Halve onions through their roots, and slice halves into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Slice zucchini into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Cut eggplant into 1-inch cubes or spears. Seed peppers, and cut them into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
• Spread each vegetable on a separate rimmed baking sheet (use extra sheets as necessary). Add the 3 cloves of smashed garlic to the onion pan. Add 1 sprig rosemary and 2 sprigs thyme to each of the pepper, eggplant and zucchini pans. Sprinkle salt lightly over vegetables. Drizzle 3 tablespoons olive oil on each of the pans.
• Place all the pans in the oven (or work in batches if they don't fit at once). Cook until vegetables are very tender and lightly browned at the edges. This will take about 35 to 40 minutes for the peppers (their skins should shrivel), 40 to 45 minutes for the eggplant and zucchini (the eggplant should crisp slightly and the zucchini should be well cooked, so let them go 3 to 5 minutes longer than you normally might), and 60 to 65 minutes for the onions. Don't worry about the vegetables being pretty; they will meld into the ratatouille. Shake or stir the pans every 15 to 20 minutes or so, especially the onions.
• In the meantime, prepare the tomatoes: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add tomatoes and blanch until the skins split, about 10 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to quickly transfer the tomatoes to a bowl filled with ice water.
• Using a paring knife, peel the cooled tomatoes (the skins should slip right off). Halve tomatoes across their equators. Set a sieve over a bowl. Working over the bowl, use your fingers to seed the tomatoes, letting the seeds catch in the sieve and the juice run into the bowl. Discard seeds but save juices. Dice tomatoes and add to the reserved juices in bowl.
• Finely grate or mince remaining garlic clove. Add garlic to tomatoes along with bay leaves and a large pinch of salt. Set aside.
• Once vegetables are done cooking, combine them on one baking sheet or a large shallow baking dish and add ingredients from tomato bowl. Toss well. Vegetables will be stacked, and that's O.K. Cover generously with olive oil, using remaining ¼ cup oil or more, and sprinkle with salt. Everything should have a good coat of oil, but should not be drowning in it. Cook at least 1 hour, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes, until vegetables are very tender and imbued with juices and oil. Add salt and pepper to taste, then serve warm, or let cool.

SOUTHWESTERN RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• In a 10-inch skillet cook onion in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until golden. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add zucchini, corn, and bell pepper and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Cook vegetables, covered, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes, or until softened.
• Add jalapeño, cumin, tomato, and salt and pepper to taste and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in coriander.

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.

SOUTHWEST CHICKEN PIZZA WITH RATATOUILLE SALSA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400. Heat oil in 10" skillet over med-hi heat. Cook chicken, onion, bell pepper, chili powder, and salt in oil about 8 min, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink (this could be done on the grill too.just marinate chicen pieces for a couple hours and grill for about 15-20 min).
• Sprinkle tomato over pizza crust. Top with chicken mixture. Place on ungreased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Bake 12-15 min or until hot. Top with warmed salsa and shredded pepperjack cheese; put back in oven for a few min until cheese is melted. Serve with guacamole, and sour cream.
• Directions for salsa:.
• Cut eggplant, zucchini, and squash lengthwise into 1/2" slices. Combine 2 tbsp worcest. sauce and 2 tbsp oil in small bowl, mix well. Brush vegies with oil mixture. Place vegies on grid. Grill over hot coals about 5 min or until vegies are tender, turning often.
• Cut vegies into chunks. Place in large bowl with tomatoes and olives. Combine dressing over vegies; toss well to coat evenly. Serve with above recipe. or chill and have it along side other grilled meats.