December 22, 2012
— Open Blogger I actually like vegetables, but most dishes whose main ingredients are vegetables taste....fine. Not great, or even very good. For most people, foodgasms usually revolve around some protein/fat combination like a big grilled steak, or a fantastic burger with great toppings. But the protein ration has been increased from 150 grams/day to 120 grams/day, so making do with less has become quite pressing.
Ratatuille is a classic French dish with about 8,000 versions, but this one is the best I have tried, at least in part because the timing of the cooking ensures that each vegetable is cooked correctly, so the dish isn't a tasteless mush. So people who want a trip down memory lane to the slop they dished out in the middle school cafeteria will have to find another recipe.
I serve this over a big pile of rice, but it's great on its own too.
Ingredients
●1/4 cup olive oil, plus more as needed
●1 ½ cups small diced onion
●1 teaspoon minced garlic
●2 cups medium diced eggplant,
●½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
●1 cup diced yellow bell peppers
●1 cup diced red bell peppers
●1 ½ cup diced zucchini squash
●1 ½ cup diced yellow squash
●1 ½ cups peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes, or one can of good chopped tomatoes
●1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
●1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
● Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
●Set a large 12-inch sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
●Once hot, add the onions and garlic to the pan.
●Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes.
●Add the eggplant and thyme to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is partially cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Add more oil as needed.
●Add the yellow and red peppers, zucchini, and squash and continue to cook for an additional 5-7 minutes.
●Add the tomatoes, basil, parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for a final 5-7 minutes.
●Stir well to blend and serve either hot or at room temperature.
Per Serving: 136 Calories
9g Fat (58.6% calories from fat)
2g Protein
13g Carbohydrate
4g Dietary Fiber
0mg Cholesterol
9mg Sodium
[Addendum] It can be served with this.

Posted by: Open Blogger at
08:09 AM
| Comments (69)
Post contains 392 words, total size 3 kb.
Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at December 22, 2012 08:13 AM (HDgX3)
Posted by: 11B40 at December 22, 2012 08:17 AM (EfXKG)
Posted by: Inspector Asshole at December 22, 2012 08:19 AM (IOSGZ)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:19 AM (3Y7RV)
Posted by: lowandslow at December 22, 2012 08:20 AM (GZitp)
Posted by: Tobacco Road, getting warmed up for the festivities at December 22, 2012 08:21 AM (4Mv1T)
The best vegetarian recipes I've ever tried came from a book called Fit for Life. The Garlic Green Beans are yummy. With cornbread.
And the best recipe for collard greens came from one of my cousins back home in Alabama, again with buttered (not margarined) cornbread. Cook 'em all day long with a small pepper and a hamhock, serve them over diced onion and tomato. Adjust pepper to taste, they can be made hot or just tangy. And if you have any cornbread left over, pour some molasses on it for dessert.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at December 22, 2012 08:22 AM (yiIja)
Posted by: Inspector Asshole at December 22, 2012 08:23 AM (IOSGZ)
Posted by: Tobacco Road, getting warmed up for the festivities at December 22, 2012 08:24 AM (4Mv1T)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:24 AM (3Y7RV)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:25 AM (C8mVl)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:26 AM (3Y7RV)
Posted by: Sammy Johnson from Detroit at December 22, 2012 08:26 AM (lJ3rV)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 22, 2012 08:27 AM (79ueO)
Posted by: huerfano at December 22, 2012 08:27 AM (bAGA/)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 22, 2012 08:28 AM (XkWWK)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:28 AM (3Y7RV)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 12:25 PM
Okra is the food that swallows faster than you do.
Posted by: huerfano at December 22, 2012 08:29 AM (bAGA/)
Posted by: BlueFalcon in Boston at December 22, 2012 08:29 AM (KCvsd)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 22, 2012 08:29 AM (79ueO)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:30 AM (3Y7RV)
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at December 22, 2012 08:31 AM (yiIja)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 22, 2012 08:31 AM (c2oll)
But with eggplant, I can see their thinking.
Posted by: Robin Banks at December 22, 2012 08:32 AM (EjsOc)
Posted by: Drewbicle at December 22, 2012 08:33 AM (A5748)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:33 AM (C8mVl)
Posted by: BlueFalcon in Boston at December 22, 2012 08:33 AM (KCvsd)
Posted by: Austute Observer, Relevant and Factual and Fresh! at December 22, 2012 08:35 AM (OX7yx)
Posted by: Cicero Kid at December 22, 2012 08:35 AM (N+Crj)
Posted by: Lauren at December 22, 2012 08:38 AM (wsGWu)
Except for lasagna of course, that may take an exorbitant amount of time but it's worth it.
Posted by: lowandslow at December 22, 2012 08:38 AM (GZitp)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:39 AM (C8mVl)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:47 AM (C8mVl)
Hmmm. I love the idea of the diced toms/onions and also adding a pepper to the collard greens. But how do I "adjust" it? Size of the pepper? Kind of pepper? (Do you use jalapeno or what?)
The name of the pepper escapes me right now, but they're about 3-4" long, red, about the diameter of a pencil. One of those in the pot suits me, you can also cut them in half. They're not real hot, well, just one of them isn't. And they're not jalapenos. I find them in the local health food store.
I'd know them if I saw them. Needless to say, I haven't made them in a while... I should rememdy that.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at December 22, 2012 08:48 AM (yiIja)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:48 AM (3Y7RV)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:49 AM (C8mVl)
After 20 years, my wife got me eat zucchini, if she cooks it in bacon grease. That is a far down the leafeater road as I'm willing to go.
God gave us heart disease to save us from alzhiemers.
Posted by: Invictus at December 22, 2012 08:51 AM (OQpzc)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 08:52 AM (3Y7RV)
I'm sure he would enjoy the entire meal, Smoked ham hocks, pinto beans, fried potatos and green tomatos poured atop of a split wedge of corn bread. Not that sweet sugary corn cake shit they make up north, real corn bread made with buttermilk. We will wash it down with a jug of sweet tea and for desert. Blackberry cobbler.
*holds out empty plate* "Can I have more, please?"
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit. at December 22, 2012 08:52 AM (yiIja)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:52 AM (C8mVl)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:56 AM (C8mVl)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 22, 2012 08:56 AM (C8mVl)
My son still remembers me sending him to glean some apples from the abandoned orchard behind our house, and me making apple crisp with them and some remnants of oatmeal.
Posted by: Miss Marple at December 22, 2012 08:58 AM (GoIUi)
My son still remembers me sending him to glean some apples from the abandoned orchard behind our house, and me making apple crisp with them and some remnants of oatmeal.
Posted by: Miss Marple at December 22, 2012 08:58 AM (GoIUi)
Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 22, 2012 09:00 AM (3Y7RV)
Chocolate is a vegetable, right?
Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 22, 2012 09:02 AM (UOM48)
*grumble*
Posted by: Fritz at December 22, 2012 09:03 AM (w3+gB)
A tasty way to get your vitamins, and no chewing involved!
Posted by: Miss Marple at December 22, 2012 09:07 AM (GoIUi)
Posted by: John the Libertarian at December 22, 2012 09:08 AM (oshol)
Posted by: Jean at December 22, 2012 09:10 AM (TNCZ9)
Nah, this dish is easy to chew.
You could could probably take your teeth out and it would still be easy to eat.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 22, 2012 09:14 AM (GsoHv)
Last time home on leave I broke down and made a batch, and Jeez Louise, was it frickin' good! I made some every week while home.
Then there's a Sicilian variant of it called caponata, which is invariably served at room temperature as an antipasto, and is also excellent. So I say, eggplant and zucchini, yay!
Posted by: Steve Skubinna at December 22, 2012 09:21 AM (HoGA+)
Broccoli is terrific. Once the main head is cut, the plants continue to grow side buds, which are tender. Even if you get it from the farmer's market, there is *nothing* as good as broccoli that's cut off the plant, then either lightly steamed and served with butter and lemon, or tossed into a stir-fry.
The same is true of my green onions, green beans, and bok choi: freshly cut, then put into a stir fry, with some thin slices of marinated beef, pork, or chicken, is a meal fit for a king. (I use a very sharp knife to slice the meat while it's still frozen, so I can cut it paper-thin). Serve over rice, with a good IPA in your glass: it just doesn't get any better.
I also grow potatoes. You wouldn't think the humble spud could actually be good, but when it's freshly dug out of the ground, it's unbelieveably tasty: whether boiled and mashed, or boiled, then sliced and stir-fried, they're *really* good. When stir-fried, I like them with ketchup; my wife prefers just a little salt; either way, they're ambrosial.
And you haven't really tasted a tomato unless you've eaten one just picked off the vine.
Now that the days are starting to get longer, a batch of gardening catelogues just arrived in the mail: time to start planning for spring. I can hardly wait!
Posted by: Brown Line at December 22, 2012 09:27 AM (6d08e)
Posted by: Dr. Varno at December 22, 2012 09:30 AM (gKiy+)
Posted by: Tobacco Road, getting warmed up for the festivities at December 22, 2012 09:35 AM (4Mv1T)
Posted by: gp at December 22, 2012 10:35 AM (mk9aG)
Is that a ham? It looks like a ham.
Whatever it is...it looks great.
Not sure why I'm such a craven carnivore, but veggies are something I have to make myself eat.
Deep frying is a big help.
Even eggplant, okra and zuchini are good when lightly battered and deep fried.
Posted by: wheatie at December 22, 2012 11:00 AM (K4wCe)
Posted by: Dave M at December 22, 2012 11:05 AM (hS38B)
Much better than turning the vegetable to mush by cooking with the meat.
Posted by: forest at December 22, 2012 12:21 PM (L7wZc)
Posted by: NCKate at December 22, 2012 12:39 PM (4zFn7)
Posted by: Butch Malahide at December 22, 2012 12:56 PM (Bu4wL)
Posted by: EROWMER at December 22, 2012 04:16 PM (kxlCQ)
Posted by: Robert at December 22, 2012 05:58 PM (LUnTP)
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Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 22, 2012 08:12 AM (79ueO)