While browsing through an old family recipe compilation cookbook, I stumbled upon Ratatouille. I don't get excited about eggplant, but it is not a very noticable flavor in this stew. I think the eggplant gives it meatiness, but the flavor is more of a veggie filled tomatoey stew. It's good and even better paired with a big loaf of Cuban bread.
Ratatouille
(from Looney Family Reunion Recipes, attributed to Peggy Collier)
1/4 cup olive or canola oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tsp salt, divided
1 small eggplant, cubed
3 tbsp. red wine
1/2 cup tomato juice
1 tsp basil
1 tsp marjorm
1/2 tsp oregano
2 medium bell peppers, chopped or in strips
1 medium zucchini or summer squash, cubed
black pepper to taste
2 medium tomatoes cut into chunks (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
2 tbsp tomato paste
fresh parsley for garnish
Heat oil in large heavy pot. Crush garlic into oil, add bay leaf and onion. Salt lightly. Saute over medium until onion becomes transparent. Add eggplant, wine, tomato juice, and herbs. Stir well and simmer 10-15 minutes over low heat.
When eggplant is tender, add zucchini and peppers, cover and simmer 10 more minutes.
Add remaining salt, pepper, tomatoes and tomato paste, mix well, and continue to stew until veggies reach desired tenderness. Just before serving remove bay leaf and garnish with parsley, I had some grated swiss & gruyere that we added on top and it was great. You might also add chopped black olives.
5 comments:
I'll have to try it. The Looney family huh? gruyere cheese... fancy!
Yes, Looney was my great aunt's married name. The cookbook says it means "The Lord's Servant" - it's an Irish name.
The gruyere was in a pouch called "Artesian Swiss" and a little line underneath that said "Swiss and Gruyere Cheeses". I bought it for a different recipe.
I'd like to hear Caleb's review of this one. :)
Hmm, I can't remember what he said when we had it. When I buy Cuban bread, he and Annalise tend to fill up on it and eat very little of whatever we have with it. He usually is willing to give anything I serve at least one try, Annalise however, often refuses food without even trying.
BTW, this would probably taste good over pasta, it has a spaghetti sauce like taste.
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