What Do I Serve with Ratatouille — French Cooking for Today (2024)

FAQ – All About Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a classic South-of-France specialty that’s made with sauteed-then-simmered onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini, flavored with a great olive oil, garlic and herbes de Provence.

Both! Ratatouille can be served as a first course with bread; it can also be served as a side dish, as you would any vegetable side. However, I most enjoy serving ratatouille as a main-ish dish; that is, as an anchor to a summer’s dinner. I love serving it with flatbread or artisanal crackers and a good array of cheeses. Maybe a summery salad or two.

Indeed, there’s no best way to serve ratatouille, just a lot of best ways to serve ratatouille! Read on for my favorites.

Neither! I serve ratatouille at room temperature. You can certainly serve it hot, especially if you’ll be serving it as a vegetarian entrée. But I never serve it straight-from-the-fridge cold. The flavors are definitely best warmed to room temp.

If you haven’t enjoyed ratatouille all that often, it’s hard to know what to serve with ratatouille. But once you make it a couple times, believe me, you’ll think of all kinds of ways to this great summery dish. Below are my favorites.

What Do I Serve with Ratatouille — French Cooking for Today (2024)

FAQs

What Do I Serve with Ratatouille — French Cooking for Today? ›

How to Serve Ratatouille. Ratatouille can be the main dish with a side of crusty bread or a salad accompanying a meal, but it's also good served over polenta, pasta, mashed potatoes, quinoa, and rice. Use it as a filling for omelets and tarts or as a side for grilled or roasted meats.

What is ratatouille usually served with? ›

Ratatouille can be served as a first course with bread; it can also be served as a side dish, as you would any vegetable side. However, I most enjoy serving ratatouille as a main-ish dish; that is, as an anchor to a summer's dinner. I love serving it with flatbread or artisanal crackers and a good array of cheeses.

What are 10 foods that were in ratatouille? ›

A classic ratatouille includes eggplant (aubergines), zucchini (courgettes), bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil and herbs. Its name is a combination of the French word “rata” meaning a stew with whole pieces and the verb “touiller” which means to stir, toss, or mix.

Is ratatouille dish popular in France? ›

These days, ratatouille has moved way beyond the peasant farms around Nice: it's become a staple dish at restaurants in France and French restaurants here in the States (and around the world, for that matter).

When should I eat ratatouille? ›

Like a good pasta salad or quiche, ratatouille is famous for its flexibility. Serve it hot, cold, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, at a picnic, as a main, as a side, topped with a fried egg or on its own.

How long will ratatouille last in the fridge? ›

Ratatouille takes some time to make, and tastes better the next day, so plan ahead. The upside is that it's a perfect make-ahead dish for a party. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, then gently reheat it, or bring it to room temperature before serving. This recipe is part of.

What wine pairs well with ratatouille? ›

The wine should be herbal like a grassy Sauvignon Blanc or a peppery Grüner Veltliner. If you want to try something different, Verdicchio, Rueda, and Arneis also have the acidity and the herbal character needed to pair perfect with grilled vegetables.

What is the actual dish in ratatouille? ›

It's a confit byaldi created by chef Michel Guérard then made more famous by Chef Thomas Keller who was the consultant to the movie!! it's confit byaldi, a mix between the ratatouille sauce and vegetables and the tian presentation.

What does ratatouille mean in French? ›

The word ratatouille derives from the Occitan ratatolha and is related to the French ratouiller and tatouiller, expressive forms of the verb touiller, meaning "to stir up". From the late 18th century, in French, it merely indicated a coarse stew.

Why do they call it ratatouille? ›

The teeming summer gardens of Mediterranean France are the inspiration for and source of ratatouille, a dish whose name is taken from two related words: ratouiller, meaning to agitate or stir a liquid, and tatouiller, meaning to beat (as in the drumbeat called the tattoo) or to shake.

What is the secret for a good ratatouille? ›

Use the freshest produce.

Don't take those tomatoes that look like you'd better use them up. The success of ratatouille depends on the freshness of your vegetables. Take the time to choose fresh vegetables and your vegetable ratatouille will taste vibrant and delicious!

Is there a French version of ratatouille? ›

Traditional French Ratatouille Recipe. This French Provencal-inspired traditional ratatouille recipe has all the summer veggie goodness going on with eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and sweet bell peppers simmered to perfection in a lively tomato sauce.

What pairs with ratatouille? ›

How to Serve Ratatouille. Ratatouille can be the main dish with a side of crusty bread or a salad accompanying a meal, but it's also good served over polenta, pasta, mashed potatoes, quinoa, and rice.

Why is ratatouille so healthy? ›

Ratatouille is packed with dietary fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C and K, folate and much more. With so many vegetables included, you're bound to meet the recommended daily amount of veggies your body needs.

Why does ratatouille taste so good? ›

This vibrant dish captures the essence of summer with its medley of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs. Our version features tender squash, juicy tomatoes, earthy eggplant, and sweet bell peppers, all cooked in a rich tomato sauce infused with garlic, thyme, parsley, and basil.

What is the main dish in ratatouille called? ›

The dish that Remy creates in Ratatouille, technically, isn't Ratatouille. It's really a dish that goes by the name of (fancy French term alert!) Confit Byaldi that was perfected by the great chef Thomas Keller. Ratatouille itself is a much more rustic dish.

Is ratatouille a peasant dish? ›

Traditionally Ratatouille was considered peasant food owing to its preparation style of “rough cut” vegetables and the economy of a dish that could be eaten with cheap rice, pasta or dipped into with chunks of bread. In recent times it has become a dish prepared by top chefs and served in the finest restaurants.

Why is ratatouille the food so popular? ›

Ratatouille, a vibrant and hearty vegetable medley, is more than just a dish—it's a celebration of Provençal culture, a testament to the sun-kissed fields of southern France, and a symbol of rustic, home-cooked goodness.

Is ratatouille a good meal? ›

This simple yet elegant dish is a healthy and delicious way to enjoy the best of summer produce. Whether served as a side dish or a main course, ratatouille is a delicious ode to seasonal produce and the art of French cooking.

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