What is Ratatouille?

@owlwings (43910)
Cambridge, England
May 17, 2020 10:41am CST
Well, apart from the Pixar/Disney film, its a French vegetable dish made from tomatoes, aubergines [eggplants], courgettes [zuccini], onions, garlic, bell peppers and, really, anything else you care to throw in. It can be served as an appetiser, a side dish or even as a main course and it can be hot or cold or just 'room temperature' (which is best, really). The basic sauce is predominantly tomato and the rest is really any above-ground vegetable you have to hand, though aubergine and/or courgette and bell peppers are practically de rigeur. Other than that, it's entirely up to you (and there are literally thousands of recipes and, of course, similar dishes from other nations). Personally, I like to make it with a little cumin and fennel seed (whole), plenty of onions (chopped) and garlic (crushed and chopped finely). When the spices are fragrant and the onion is translucent, I begin to add the other vegetables and cook in the pan until they are just beginning to brown. Then I add the tomato (usually canned chopped tomato), some balsamic vinegar and/or lemon juice, salt and freshly-ground black pepper, some olives (black or green, if I have them) and the herbs - oregano, thyme, basil, and parsley or whatever I have to hand. I sometimes add a touch of chili or smoked Spanish paprika but this isn't really a very spicy dish, in my opinion. I like to eat it at room-temperature or cold rather than warm and on its own with, maybe, a bitof grated cheese sprinkled on top but some would serve it hot over rice or pasta. It's basically a sauce or salsa but not quite as runny as a Mexican salsa. What do you have in your culture which resembles this? What does it contain and how do you cook and eat it?
32 people like this
25 responses
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
17 May 20
Just send me some already
6 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
17 May 20
Stars might fall on Alabama but I don't know what happens to ratatouille if it travels through the stratosphere!
3 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
23 Aug 20
@TheHorse You can feel the joy those two got from singing together. Never mind that Satch really couldn't sing, they clearly both love the song and performing together. When I played the track it was followed by Sammy Davis Jr doing Mr Bojangles which I hadn't heard for ages and it was so good to see him doing it live.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218463)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Aug 20
@owlwings Some songs are too good not to be heard.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Stars Fell On Alabama · Ella Fitzgerald · Louis Armstrong Ella and Louis ? A Verve Records Release; ? 1956 UMG R...
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
5 Jul 20
I used to make ratatouille all the time when we were first married. Somehow we outgrew our fondness for it. I served it as a side dish. I think I will make it again thanks to you!
3 people like this
• Midland, Michigan
7 Dec 20
Same here it sounds good. I made it about five years ago for a time.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
5 Jul 20
@owlwings It was even popular in the late 70s and early 80s with a shag haircut and that Dorothy Hamill haircut
2 people like this
• United States
12 Apr 21
@owlwings I miss my 'ethnic' cotton Indian print dresses and shirts.
1 person likes this
• China
1 Jun 20
It is a wholesome dish and good in colour,smell and taste .However the oregano, thyme and basil are not our commonly used seasoning.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
1 Jun 20
I can quite see that your version of (or equivalent to) this dish would be very different. I imagine that you probably wouldn't use tomato and would almost certainly use ginger. You would probably prefer to serve it hot, too, with rice. As it is, essentially, a summer vegetable dish what would be your choice of vegetables and seasoning? Do you use aubergine/eggplant/brinjal in Chinese cooking? What spices and herbs would be in your tradition?
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
2 Jun 20
@changjiangzhibin89 That looks very good! It has a lot of oil (but it is olive oil, which I don't believe is used much in China). I notice that there are no traditional Chinese spices such as ginger and cinnamon (cassia) or anise. Fennel seed might, however, be a good addition. It would be interesting to try Schechuan pepper or long pepper instead of some of the chili (4 pieces of jalapeno, chopped with the seeds, seems rather a lot! It seems to me that it would completely mask the delicate flavour of the eggplant and courgette).
1 person likes this
• China
2 Jun 20
@owlwings You have good knowledge of our cooking ! The spices we use most are ginger, spring onion(chive),garlic,aniseed(star anise),fennel and cassia bark.We like eating the chili and eggplant too.I haven't made the Ratatouille myself.You may get an idea of how we like it to be cooked from the link below.However the dish has basil leaves in it.
I fell in love with this recipe the moment I first uncovered it in Susanna Foo's Fresh Inspirations. There is obviously nothing wrong with the traditional version of ratatouille but the idea of tweaking it, especially by adding chiles, appealed to me for s
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112770)
• El Paso, Texas
17 May 20
That looks really good, I'll have to try it one day. I've never made anything like this dish but I recall a coworker who'd bring in Jambalaya or something like that when ever we'd have a pot luck lunch.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112770)
• El Paso, Texas
17 May 20
It does sound yummy @owlwings
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 May 20
looks like like a really really chunky veggie stew
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
24 May 20
@Jessicalynnt It's not just a 'chunky veg stew', though. 1) it's summer vegetables only (no root vegetables) and 2) it's not overcooked: the courgette/zuccini should still have a bit of 'bite' to them 3) it can be eaten hot but it's best served at room temperature or slightly chilled.
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
18 May 20
That's more or less what it is, of course.
2 people like this
• Centralia, Missouri
18 May 20
@owlwings then we do have it! lol
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218463)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May 20
It looks and sounds good. I'm not sure what dish here would be most similar.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
22 May 20
I'm sure that, somewhere in the States, someone makes something like this but, depending on their cultural background, it has a different name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille#Related_dishes
2 people like this
• Midland, Michigan
7 Dec 20
@owlwings I called it the same thing.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218463)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 May 20
@owlwings I sometimes just throw whatever veggies I have into a pan with olive oil and soy sauce. I usually have rice on the side. I'm not a spice expert, though.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47256)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
17 May 20
What is Ratatouille? Just another stirfry, really.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
18 May 20
Many dishes start out as a 'stir fry' but end up as casseroles of some kind. I often wonder what our cuisines would be like if we hadn't discovered tomatoes and chilis in the 16th and 17th centuries. Italian and Indian cuisines, especially, would be hugely different, I think!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180366)
• United States
18 Jul 20
I have had it...not too delicious in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
19 Jul 20
It depends a lot on who makes it.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222756)
• Chile
17 May 20
I am searching for vegetable dishes so I will follow your advise next week. But I wonder it that could be server as a main dish with a side of white rice. I would serve it warm or even hot. What do you think?
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
17 May 20
Certainly you can serve it hot as a main with rice or pasta, Just find a recipe online which you like.You really could include any vegetables you have to hand, though ideally it should have courgette/zucchini and aubergine/eggplant because they keep their texture and give it some 'bite'. i like to add some grated Parmesan to it as a garnish.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (222756)
• Chile
17 May 20
@owlwings I always have those as I love them. I also have onion and garlic all the time. I could add some olive oil and Reggianito cheese as in risotto.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Jun 20
Oh, I am going to have to save this post. I admit, the first thought that came to my mind was the movie, but I also remember my husband looking up the recipe, but we never made it. Now that I know someone who has made it, I want to try it.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
1 Jun 20
You certainly should try it, It really isn't difficult and it's a perfect way of using up those summer vegetables like zuccini and tomatoes. I usually use a lot of fresh herbs in it but sometimes add some cumin and even a little chili, It really should have eggplant and zuccini for the texture that they have. You do have to take care not to cook it for too long but just so the veggies are cooked but still firm. Served cold or at room temperature, it's an excellent side dish with most things or just with crusty bread. Served warm, you can have it as a main with pasta or rice with grated cheese on it (Parmagiano for choice, but cheddar would do).
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Jun 20
@owlwings Thank you.
1 person likes this
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
4 Jul 20
Whatever it is made with, it looks delicious. I will have to make this one day after I move away from here, these kids here would not eat it since there is no meat.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
4 Jul 20
The next time you hear them say there's ''no meat", tell them that 'meat' (and 'bread', as in 'daily bread') really means anything you can eat (as opposed to things you drink). What they mean is that there's "no flesh".
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
4 Jul 20
@gr8nana6 By 'meat' I imagine you mean beef (or chicken). You do know, I hope, that Britain is not going to buy American beef because it is pumped full of hormones, nor will it take your chlorine-washed chicken or washed eggs which have to be kept in the fridge or they go off very quickly.
1 person likes this
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
4 Jul 20
@owlwings Yes I mean Beef, pork, chicken I didn't know that about them not buying american beef I do keep my eggs in the fridge anyway..
@thelme55 (76851)
• Germany
23 May 20
I love eating Ratatouille with baguette. Yummy!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
23 May 20
It's very good with a nice, fresh crusty bread (a baguette, of course, since it's French!). Germany also makes some excellent breads and it would pair beautifully with a walnut bread or a rye bread with plenty of caraway seed in it.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76851)
• Germany
24 May 20
@owlwings Baguette or rye bread with ratatouille is very delicious.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jul 20
I've never had it, but I think I would like it better with pasta.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
15 Jul 20
You can have it as a sauce over pasta but, as it's usually served cold, it's best as a side dish with whatever protein you use (meat, cheese, tofu &c).
1 person likes this
@ScotMac (1335)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
14 Oct 20
There is nothing in Scots cooking which comes close to this. We live mainly on fried everything!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
14 Oct 20
Except for the boiled cabbage. I can't think of anything Scottish which approaches this, either!
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (38608)
• United States
12 Sep 20
I have heard of it. Never ate it. Lot of stuff in it.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
18 May 20
That looks very good
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79648)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Jul 20
Ratatouille is the most delicious especially homemade but you got to be careful not to add too much vinegar. Sometimes I keep the vinegar out and only use lemon juice. I love that animated movie with the rat that could make the best ratatouille.
1 person likes this
@pjmurphy (2499)
• United States
5 Oct 20
Looks wonderful.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3365)
• United States
16 Jul 20
I would call that a darn good looking pan of stir fry. I had no idea what ratatouille was exactly, now I do.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
14 Aug 20
Hm, being not a big fan of large chunks of vegetables I don't think this dish is for me. I know I'm odd, but I think I would like it if it were diced fine
1 person likes this