Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a French dish and there is no need to mention how yummy it is. It is simple yet tasty and satisfying. There are many versions of this classic one.  When I hear the name I am always reminded of the movie, Ratatouille. I like the version the rat made in the movie than the traditional stew-like ratatouille. I admired every time I watched the movie how the rat made him cut slices and layer the ratatouille. Simply awesome. Anyone can cook this, just like in the movie. In any method, you cook, it is going to taste delicious. And it can transport you definitely to heaven just like how the critic, Anton Ego, got back to his childhood memories of having ratatouille when he tasted the ratatouille. 

After the veggie slices are layered in the tomato base, fresh chopped, basil, garlic, and seasonings are mixed in oil and brushed on top. I realized that I forgot to buy fresh basil. It doesn't stop me from baking this. I used the basil pesto that I had with me instead. This can be served with bread or pasta. I can eat this as such for breakfast, lunch, snack, or dinner. It may be a little time consuming to slice the veggies, layer, and arrange them, but it is worth the effort. It looks and tastes divine. Totally lip-smacking! Though for time constraints you might want to chop up and make a stew, try baking it like this, and you would be tempted to make it again and again. If there is any leftover, "IF", they go as great filling for a sandwich. Make a grilled cheese with it, or have it with salted oatmeal. Cool ways to use it too. I baked in two dishes. One 9x7-in and one 7x4 oval one (one a little less spicy). You can make one bigger dish too.

I am posting this for Srivalli's Bake-A-Thon 2020. We share recipes for baked food 3 days a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday - all through the month.

Here is a quick link to my posts for Bake-A-Thon 2020

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 1 Almond Flour Sand-dollar Cookies

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 2 Eggless Classic Biscotti

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 3 Apple Crisp For One

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 4 Single Serve Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookie

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 5 Single Serve Eggless Chocolate Lava Cake

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 6 Roasted Garbanzos

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 7 Eggless Persimmon, Ginger, Praline Pecan Bread

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 8 Eggless Triple Peppermint Cookie

Bake-A-Thon 2020 Day 9 Baked Potato

Ingredients

Makes 10-12 servings

Italian eggplant - 3

Zucchini - 2 medium

Roma tomatoes - 4

Crushed tomatoes - 2.5 cup

Salt -1 tsp plus a little

black pepper - 2/3 tsp

Chili flakes - 1 tsp

Dried basil - 1/2 tsp

Dried parsley  -1/2 tsp

Pesto - 2 -3 tsp

Oil -2 tbsp

Onion  -3/4 cup

Garlic - 1 tsp, finely chopped

Bell pepper-  3/4 cup

Method

Slice the eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes very thin, like paper-thin. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in a pan, add the chopped onion, garlic, and bell pepper, and sauté till soft. Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, chili flakes, dried herbs, and cook till the sauce reduces, approximately for 15 minutes. 

Pour the sauce into a 9-in pie plate. Smoothen with a spatula. Arrange the sliced veggies in alternating patterns. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, add pesto on top. 

Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven. cool for 15 minutes.

Serve with garlic bread.

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