What is Ratatouille?

Q: So, what is ratatouille?

A: Made up of a variety of vegetables, ratatouille is most similar to a vegetable stew. A flexible dish on its own: it can be served hot, cold, as well as lukewarm. Refer to it as an appetizer, refer to it as your main course, anything you want to refer to it as, it's a classic French dish, namely in the Provencal region. Some serve it with meat and potatoes, others on the bed of rice. Ratatouille bears no burden of restrictions. As well as for all you leftover lovers, many contend that ratatouille actually is more enjoyable the day after it's cooked. Chocolate and Zucchini even calls it an "ideal make-ahead dish." So give it a try!

Q: Ok, fine, then how do you prepare it?

A: Its main components are usually tomatoes, aubergines (French for eggplants), courgettes (French for zucchinis), onions, garlic, plus some variety of peppers. Some cook it with meat, however, many French chefs observe that it is important to prepare all the vegetables separately before adding these phones the aggregate stew. French chef Phillipe Aubin will back me on that, but he also claims that aubergines (eggplants should you recall) aren't used in the "authentic Ratatouille Nicoise." But after you have decided which vegetables you intend to use and also have prepared them, you sauté all of them together within an olive oil with a few salt, pepper, along with a bay leaf for added flavor. Fine Cooking writers will hit you within the head should you simmer or boil the vegetables together. Ratatouille shouldn't be mushy!

Q: Where did the name originate from?

A: We have established the name is clearly French, but there appears to be some disagreement within the name's actual etymology. Probably the most reliable source to talk on the matter, Merriam Webster Dictionary, claims the term is a "blend of ratouiller, to disturb, shake, and tatouiller, to stir." Most believe that the word touiller, to stir, influences the 2nd component, however the Wikipedia entry for ratatouille says that "rata" was French army slang for chunky stew. Clifford Wright agrees!

Q: When did the concept come about?A: The very first muttering from the word ratatouille happened in 1800s Provence, France. If you discover out who created it, tell me!

Q: What other interesting facts are you able to tell me about Ratatouille?

A: Well, you may be excited to understand (if you're looking over this during the summer) that ratatouille is usually prepared during or at the conclusion of the summer, as the majority of its vegetable components have been in season then. That may also be the main reasoning behind the discharge date from the Disney movie. This recipe will prove it: summer ratatouille. Also, it had been originally considered an undesirable farmer's dish, based on Aubin (referenced earlier), since it requires no particularly expensive ingredients.

I hope I answered all of your questions, for those who have any more, you can let me know and I'll do my better to find out!

Oh, you should also try out Kitchen Garden Ratatouille for any recipe more unique in the manner that it incorporates cheesy polenta to the mix.

Hillary Marshak is really a writer and editor for Recipe4Living.com, an rising recipe sharing Website. For additional articles such as this, or for a sizable collection of recipes, visit Recipe4Living!