Several times this summer, we've had so much zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant that it wouldn't all fit in our refrigerator.
Seriously, that's a lot of vegetables.
It's a good thing that we like to eat healthy, fresh food 'cause it's all we've got.
Last week, I made No Noodle Crockpot Lasagna that popped up in my Google Reader. Instead of noodles, you're supposed to cut zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant in long, thin slices. Then you layer them in the crockpot with some cheese and other veggies, and cook it all day. I ended up overcooking mine, and it turned out just okay. I'm going to give it another try later on in the summer and be more careful about the cooking time.
Anyway, as I was preparing to cook the lasagna, I sliced 4 oriental eggplants, 4 zucchinis, and 4 yellow squashes. What was I thinking? Well, actually, I wasn't thinking. I was trying to entertain my busy toddler and keep her fingers out of my mandoline.
I have a 6-quart crockpot. By the time I realized it, I had cut enough veggies for three times that volume. Joe noticed all those long, thin vegetable slices in the refrigerator, and asked me to make ratatouille. He's never eaten it, and he's been wanting to ever since we saw the movie, Ratatouille.
My ratatouille was amazing. Oh my gosh, it was good. It was like, wow, I'd pay for this in a restaurant good. Joe thought so, too. So, here's what I made up as I went along my recipe:
Classic French Ratatouille
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 4 quarts eggplant, zucchini, & yellow squash (note - if I was making this again, I would cut two of each veggie into chunks)
- 3-5 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ dried chives
- ¼ dried parsley
- 3 small Hungarian wax peppers (I don't like bell peppers so I used these, but you could easily use one or two bell peppers instead.)
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 16 oz mushrooms sliced
- 2 large tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ pound campanelle pasta cooked according to package directions
- mozzarella shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the olive oil in an 8 quart stock pot over medium heat. When the pot is hot, add onions, zucchini, eggplant, and yellow squash. Cook until the onions become translucent, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
- Add garlic, chives, parsley, peppers, water and vinegar. Cook ten minutes or longer, until eggplant and squash are soft.
- Add mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook until almost all of the liquid is absorbed.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and pasta. Continue to heat, just until cheese begins to melt.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each plate just before serving.
Notes
*Variation - Let's just say that you put hot peppers in the recipe instead of sweet peppers. I wouldn't recommend that, but let's say you did it by accident. In that case, you could add a block of cream cheese and a cup or two of sour cream and stir it in until the whole thing is warm. It's a whole different meal that way. It's just as good as the first version, but very different. You might want to try it both ways. Just thought I'd let you know.
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(In case you're wondering, I wrote this last week, before we left for the beach. No, we're not cooking on our vacation.)
Deanna says
I just bought the game for my son for his Nintendo DS. It would be fun to make this for him one night. Thanks!
Deanna says
I just bought the game for my son for his Nintendo DS. It would be fun to make this for him one night. Thanks!
A happy heart at home says
I've never had ratatouille. I'm glad yours tasted so good.
~Susan
A happy heart at home says
I've never had ratatouille. I'm glad yours tasted so good.~Susan
[email protected] says
Oh you domestic divas with fresh veggies growing in your yard. I am so impressed and jealous. Although, after reading previous posts, I understand your hubby has worked hard to grow them veggies! This recipe sounds great. I want to try it! I am also going to look up that veggie lasagna recipe. Thanks for sharing. So, how is the sand doing? All gone, yet? :o)
[email protected] says
Oh you domestic divas with fresh veggies growing in your yard. I am so impressed and jealous. Although, after reading previous posts, I understand your hubby has worked hard to grow them veggies! This recipe sounds great. I want to try it! I am also going to look up that veggie lasagna recipe. Thanks for sharing. So, how is the sand doing? All gone, yet? :o)