Grilled Ratatouille With Fried Capers Recipes

GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high.
• Place all cut vegetables and the tomatoes in a large shallow baking dish, add the 1/2 cup of olive oil, and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place the vegetables on the grill and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time. Remove the tomatoes, cover grill, and cook the remaining vegetables for 2 minutes, or until almost cooked through. Transfer vegetables to a cutting board and coarsely chop (leave tomatoes whole). Place the chopped vegetables and tomatoes in a large bowl, add the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, garlic, oregano and parsley and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve at room temperature.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat.
• Put the tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and onion on the grill and cover. Grill the tomatoes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred, 5 to 6 minutes. Grill the zucchini, eggplant and onion, turning every 5 minutes, until lightly charred and tender when poked with the tip of a small, sharp knife, 15 to 20 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, chop all of the vegetables except the onion into bite-size pieces and add to a medium bowl. Chop the onion finely and add to the bowl. Fold in the oil, basil, parsley, thyme, garlic and 1 tablespoon salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• At least an hour before cooking, light the charcoal fire.
• Cut away the stems of the eggplants but do not peel. Quarter and slice them into three-inch sticks. Place the eggplant on skewers. Set aside.
• Roast the peppers on the grill until the skins are blackened and loose. Remove from the grill, place in a paper bag and set aside for 10 minutes. Then peel under running water, discarding the stems, seeds and ribs. Slice lengthwise into strips about one-quarter- to one-half-inch wide. Place the pepper strips in a serving bowl.
• Chop the anchovies and the garlic together to make a coarse mixture. Mix in the olive oil. Add one-quarter cup of this mixture to the pepper strips and stir. Place the eggplant in the remaining marinade while preparing the rest of the vegetables.
• Place the onion quarters on skewers, brush with a little of the marinade and grill until they are browned, almost black. Remove from the skewers, chop roughly and toss with the peppers.
• Brush the zucchini with a little of the marinade and grill. When browned on both sides, remove them and cut into one-quarter- to one-half-inch pieces. Add to the other vegetables.
• Brush the tomatoes with the marinade. Grill them, cut side up, until skins are loose. Remove and cut each half in thirds. Add them, with their juice, to the other vegetables.
• Grill the eggplant sticks until they are well browned on both sides. Add to the vegetables. Mix well.
• Add any remaining marinade to the vegetables. Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with the basil and capers. The dish may be served immediately or set aside, but should be served at room temperature.

CHARRED EGGPLANT WITH BURRATA AND FRIED CAPERS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan or skillet, heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high until it shimmers, about 1 minute. Meanwhile, dry the capers very well by wrapping them in paper towels or a clean dish towel and wringing out the moisture. (If there is too much moisture, the oil will sputter aggressively.) Line a plate or tray with paper towels or a clean dish towel.
• When the oil is ready, carefully drop the capers in and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. (Watch closely, as smaller capers will cook more quickly.) Remove the capers from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on the lined plate. They will crisp up further as they cool.
• Transfer the caper-infused oil to a large heatproof bowl and set aside to cool for a few minutes.
• Lay the disks of eggplant on a large cutting board or sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil, flip over and drizzle the other side. Heat a large (12-inch) grill pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high. (See Tip for grilling instructions.) When hot, working in batches, add the eggplant disks in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes, pressing the eggplant into the pan to encourage browning. Flip, reduce heat to medium and cook on the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes, until completely tender. (The eggplant continues to soften as it soaks up the marinade in the next step, so don't be tempted to overcook.) Remove the eggplant from the pan and place them back on the cutting board or plate. Continue cooking the remaining eggplant.
• Meanwhile, to the bowl with the cooled caper-infused oil, add the herbs, garlic, red-pepper flakes, lemon zest and juice, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and a few pinches of black pepper. Toss to combine and taste, making sure it has enough salt. Add the warm eggplant slices to the oil and gently toss to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 5 minutes (see Tip).
• Serve this on one large platter or as four separate servings. Place the burrata (for single servings, halve each ball of burrata) on the plate along with the eggplant and top with any remaining marinade and the fried capers, and scatter with fresh herbs.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE WITH CROSTINI AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the grill. Place vegetables and lemon on grill, making sure onion and lemons are cut side down, and cover. Grill lemon halves until lightly caramelized, 3 to 5 minutes total. Grill onion until it is heavily charred, about 7 to 15 minutes total. Grill peppers, zucchini and eggplant until charred and very soft, about 3 to 8 minutes per side total. Transfer to a cutting board.
• Grill bread until lightly charred and toasted, about 1 minute per side. Halve one or two of the garlic cloves and rub cut sides on the grilled bread. Mince remaining garlic clove and set aside.
• Chop vegetables into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl; toss with the juice of 3 of the grilled lemon halves, the minced garlic, olive oil, basil, thyme leaves, 1/2 teaspoon salt and some black pepper to taste. Adjust seasonings as needed, adding more lemon juice (from remaining lemon half), salt or oil, or both, as needed. Set aside.
• To serve, arrange ratatouille, grilled bread and goat cheese on a large platter. Sprinkle thyme leaves, pepper and flaky salt over goat cheese. Or spread goat cheese on toasts, sprinkle with thyme, pepper and flaky sea salt, then top with some of the ratatouille to make crostini.

RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Trim off the ends of the eggplant and zucchini. Do not peel. Cut each into cubes measuring about one inch or slightly larger. There should be about nine cups of eggplant cubes and six of zucchini.
• Peel the onions and cut into one-half-inch cubes. There should be about one and one-half cups.
• Core, seed and devein the green peppers, and cut them into one-inch pieces. There should be about two and one-half cups.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy casserole and add the eggplant and zucchini. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, over high heat until the vegetables start to brown, about five minutes.
• Add the onions, green peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring, over high heat, about two minutes. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, and stir to blend. Add the bay leaf, thyme and capers. Add salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and cover closely. Reduce the heat and let simmer 30 minutes. Stir in the parsley and remove from the heat.

GRILLED RATATOUILLE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat. Toss zucchini, eggplant, and 1/4 cup oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Grill, turning often, until steamy, tender, and charred all over, 8-12 minutes. Return to baking sheet and let cool.
• Cook pasta according to package directions.
• Slice grilled vegetables into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add tomato, cheese, vinegar, thyme, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper, and 1/2 cup oil and mix to combine. Drain pasta and immediately add to bowl with vegetables. Mix well to combine, then top with basil.
• Do Ahead: Vegetables can be grilled 3 days ahead. Transfer (whole) to an airtight container and chill.

GRILLED ASPARAGUS WITH CAPER SALSA

Steps:

• Fill a medium-size pot with cold water, and place it over high heat. When the water boils, add the asparagus, and blanch for 1 minute. Drain the asparagus, and rinse it immediately under cold water. Drain the asparagus again and place in a medium bowl, with 1 tablespoon of the oil, a pinch of salt and a generous grind of black pepper. Mix gently, and set aside.
• Light a charcoal or gas grill, or place a grill pan on the stove over high heat. Once it is hot, add the asparagus in batches, and grill for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, turning a few times, until the spears are lightly charred. Transfer to a large platter with all the tips facing in one direction.
• Meanwhile, make the salsa. Mix together the capers with the remaining tablespoon of oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic and parsley. Add the goat cheese to the mixture, stir gently and spoon over the asparagus.