Friday, May 25, 2007

Ratatouille Redux

If John Updike can revisit a character, write an entire new book--or even a series of books--and call his work Rabbit Redux, I figure I can blog about ratatouille again . . .and call it ratatouille redux.

Today, I made the first batch of ratatouille for the season. It felt like first fruits of the season going into the pot one by one.

First, I sliced green and orange peppers, then purple onion. While they saute in some olive oil, I go to work.


First, I assemble the cast of characters--eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash along with tomatoes.



Then I get the supporting characters ready--olive oil (already in the pot), salt & pepper and basil--LOTS of basil.



I cube the eggplant. And toss it on top of the simmering peppers and onions.



Between each squash layer, I put sliced tomatoes and generous sprinklings of basil.



Next, the sliced zucchini.




More sliced tomatoes (and basil).



Then sliced yellow squash.


When it is all layered, I pour a small can of V-8 over top (to make sure there is enough juice).


Finally, simmer until all the vegetables are tender.
One summer, I actually grew ALL of the ingredients for ratatouille. I admit--that was many years ago. Of course, as anyone who grows zucchini knows, you had best have a few other recipes handy for your harvest.
Tomorrow we will enjoy the ratatouille.
And celebrate the beginning of summer.
Post Script -- I forgot to link the original recipe. I have now done that above, and also here.

5 comments:

Mary said...

This is another recipe I am saving. Oh, Donna - I had an early dinner and now I'm drooling.

It looks marvelous to me - I love tomatoes and every ingredient you listed!

THANK YOU!

Ruth said...

Beautiful step by step guide. Yum! I love flavour the yellow squash or courgettes, but they do not last as long as the green zucchini.
Ruth

Cathy said...

What a beautiful pictorial essay! Donna, you must have had a wonderful garden. I so miss working the soil as I did a decade ago. Still, the memories are nice.

Pam said...

My husband and I just love ratatouille and have a recipe from Dom del Louis' cook book, it's excellent.

Climenheise said...

I must admit it sure looks good. I don't know if it is, but it sure looks good!