Provencal Raito Recipes

RATATOUILLE PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Pour olive oil into a large pot over high heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Reduce heat and add tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, tomato puree, herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and check the level of liquid in the pot. Continue cooking for 30 minutes, uncovered if there is too much liquid, or covered if the amount of liquid looks right.

PROVENCAL RATATOUILLE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preparation of the peppers: Cut the red and green peppers into thin sections after having seeded them, without removing the skin. Blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes to make them more digestible. Remove from the water when slightly softened. Drain water over a colander.
• Meanwhile, trim the eggplants into cubes with their skin. First cut them in the direction of their length, then cut perpendicularly to get dice.
• Peel and crush two garlic cloves.
• Wash and chop the parsley.
• Lightly heat half a cup of olive oil in a skillet. (Preferably a Provencal olive oil!)
• When the pan is hot but not too hot (because the olive oil loses its beneficial qualities if it's burnt), sauté the aubergines with garlic and a large handful of parsley.
• Stir occasionally.
• Preparation of the tomatoes: Score the bottom of the tomatoes. Dip the tomatoes in boiling water for about 3-5 minutes for ease of peeling the skin.
• Wait until they cool to cut and seed them. You can fry the tomatoes with peppers or separately, still with olive oil and garlic. Stir occasionally.
• Slice the onions.
• In another pan, brown the onions with two tablespoons of olive oil, then add the peppers. After about 10 minutes, or as soon as the peppers have softened, add the tomatoes. Stir often to prevent vegetables from clinging to the bottom of the pan.
• Remember to check the eggplant, which should brown a little on the flesh side. Remove the eggplant from the heat once it begins to brown.
• Preparation of zucchini: Cut zucchini into cubes. Prepare two cloves of garlic again, and chop parsley.
• Brown zucchini cubes in a skillet over medium heat in the preheated olive oil. You can use a little less oil than for eggplant.
• Add the pressed garlic, and a good handful of chopped parsley. Stir often. Add a spoon of olive oil to the zucchini if necessary.
• When the zucchini is browned, season with salt and pepper.
• Stop cooking already cooked vegetables, and drain juices. Watch the others as they must not be crisp.
• Bake the ratatouille: When all the vegetables are cooked and drained, mix them in a casserole dish.
• Add thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
• Adjust the seasoning according to your taste.
• Cover and simmer in the oven (150C or 300F) for at least two hours (minimum). Stir occasionally.
• Serve and enjoy!

PROVENCAL RAITO

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed casserole over low heat and add the onions. Saute stirring frequently, until the onions begin to brown, about 20 minutes.
• 2. Add one of the garlic cloves and saute with the onions, stirring, until the garlic just begins to color, about one minute.
• 3. Add the cloves and wine. Raise the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes.
• 4. Add remaining garlic, water, tomatoes, bay leaf, herbs, 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper. Bring back to a boil.
• 5. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1.5 hours, stirring from time to time. The mixture should be thick and reduced by about half. Most but not all of the liquid will have evaporated. Remove from heat.
• 6. Remove the cloves and bay leaf and discard. Put the sauce through a food mill with the fine blade or food processor.
• 7. Return to the pot and stir in olives and capers. Heat through over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Just before serving stir in parsley.
• ** Note this sauce can be refrigerated for 3 days or frozen.

RADIATORE PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Start large pot of water to boil for pasta.
• In large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add the eggplant and tomatoes and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender and the tomatoes release their juices, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, start cooking the pasta according to package directions.
• While the vegetables are still cooking, drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the water. Transfer the pasta to a serving bowl. Add vegetables to pasta.
• Add the reserved pasta water to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring, until reduced slightly. Add to pasta and vegetables and toss to combine.
• Serve pasta topped with basil, garlic bread crumbs and grated parmesan or soy cheese, if desired.
• NOTE: Sauteed garlic crumbs can be made with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 garlic cloves, minced, and 1 3/4 cups soft whole wheat or white bread crumbs, cubed. In large non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until opaque but not brown. Addd the bread crumbs and cook, stirring often, until the crumbs turn golden, 5-8 minutes. Scrape crumbs on paper towels and let cool.

HERBS DE PROVENCE

Steps:

• Grind rosemary and fennel seed in a spice grinder; transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir savory, thyme, basil, marjoram, lavender, parsley, oregano, tarragon, and bay powder with the rosemary and fennel. Store in an air-tight container between uses.

CHICKEN PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper and put it in the pan. Cook the chicken until browned, turning, about 8 minutes in all. Remove the chicken from the pan. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the wine to the pan and simmer until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, rosemary, thyme, olives, anchovy paste, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken thighs and drumsticks and any accumulated juices. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the breasts and cook until the chicken is just done, about 10 minutes more. Stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Serve.

OMELET PROVENCAL

Steps:

• Combine eggs, water and pepper in a small bowl; whisk gently to blend the whites and yolks, but not to make them frothy. Melt the olive oil in a 10-inch, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, tilting to coat the bottom and sides. Once the oil is hot, pour the eggs inches.
• As the eggs start to set, lift the edges so the uncooked egg mixture flows underneath. Cook until the eggs are set and no visible liquid egg remains, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
• Top half the omelet with tomatoes, cheese and olives; sprinkle with parsley and herbs de Provence. Flip the unfilled half of the omelet over the top. Heat until lightly browned on the bottom, then slide onto a plate to serve. Garnish with parsley sprigs.