Ratatouille (Confit Byaldi) From the Ratatouille Movie

Intro: Ratatouille (Confit Byaldi) From the Ratatouille Movie

Ratatouille is one of the most classic French dishes. This one-pot meal was invented by the French peasants in the Provencal region of Nice, in the 18th century as a quick and affordable meal to help deplete the abundance of summer vegetables that would otherwise have gone bad.

In 2007, Ratatouille became well known to the world with the Disney Pixar's animated movie about a rat with very well-developed senses of taste and smell. At the end of the movie, the protagonist prepares a more contemporary version of ratatouille: the Confit Byaldi. Instead of mixing all the chopped-up vegetables in a pot, this version presents all the ingredients in a nice and organized fashion, while also replacing the peppers with mushrooms.

In this Instructable, we are going to make a Confit Byaldi using the ingredients from a classic Ratatouille.

Let's get cooking!

STEP 1: Chop

Chop the onion and garlic into small pieces. Also now is a good time to turn on the oven and preheat it to 375˚F (190˚C).

STEP 2: Make the Tomato Sauce

In a pot, heat up the olive oil. Add the chopped-up onion and garlic and stir for around 7 minutes until the onion has turned golden.

Add the tomato sauce, the basil, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly, then remove from heat and let the sauce cool down.

STEP 3: Slice

Slice the zucchini, the eggplant, the bell pepper, and the tomatoes into thin slices - the bell pepper can be cut in two before slicing.

STEP 4: Arrange

Pour the tomato sauce in a 12-inch (30 cm) ceramic baking tray or a cast-iron oven dish. Spread it evenly.

Now, place the sliced-up vegetables on the tray, forming concentric circles, while alternating the different ingredients. For example: Zucchhini / tomato / eggplant / bell pepper / Zucchini / tomato /.... The slices should be submerged halfway into the tomato sauce.

Start from the outer edge and make your way towards the center. The last slices can be arranged in a line to cover up the empty spot in the middle.

Grind some salt and pepper on top.

STEP 5: Bake

Wrap the tray in aluminum foil and place it in the oven for 50 minutes. Then, remove the foil and place it back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes.

STEP 6: Done!

Remove the tray from the oven and serve right away. Ratatouille is best when still hot!

Enjoy!

Comments

[Larry_French]

I'm impatient to try this. It looks delicious !

[Handy_Bear]

Thanks!

[FloP]

This looks nice but as a French person living in the South I must tell that it’s not Ratatouille, it’s a Tian! It was misnamed in the movie.

[TheHandCraftHob]

Looks delicious! Will definitely try.

[JMorton3]

Just before the list of ingredients, you stated " ... this version presents all the ingredients in a nice and organized fashion, while also replacing the peppers with mushrooms.". Did you replace the pepper with the mushrooms?

[Handy_Bear]

No, I didn't, I kept the pepper. But the Confit Byaldi invented by chef Michel Guérard does. That's what I wrote further down: "In this Instructable, we are going to make a Confit Byaldi using the ingredients from a classic Ratatouille" - we keep the appearance of the Confit Byaldi, but use the original ingredients that go into a peasant style Ratatouille.

[Lazarus0]

Looks and sounds delicious. Hard to find actual bell peppers locally, but soon I'll be growing them (and anything else I can get seeds for). I think the local bell-type pepper is called Atsal.

They are also smaller, but the local eggplants are thin and tubular so the diameter of the slices will end up being smaller, too, but still uniform sized.

I'm also thinking that a few nice variations would be to add some sliced Italian Salsiccia, or, sliced pepperoni, or even sliced salami. Hmm, a French version of an Italian dish...

[jackorth44]

Hi looks very nice but where did you put the red pepper?

[Handy_Bear]

Hi! Thank you! It went between the slices of the other vegetables.

[jackorth44]

Thank you, maybe this will impress the grandkids. Ratatouille!

[arex]

I've made this from a similar recipe a few years ago, and it was amazing. I think there were only slight variations between that recipe and yours, so I'm sure yours is going to be great when I make it this weekend.

[bag831]

In the ingredients you state tomato sauce but in the instructions you mention adding the tomato paste. Which is it as they are 2 different things

[Handy_Bear]

Oops, yes, it is tomato sauce. Thank you for pointing that out! I will change it right away. :)

[ShamWerks]

as a French person living in the Provencal region of Nice (though not a peasant), I was actually looking for this very recipe! Thank you, will definitely give it a go!

[Handy_Bear]

Merci beaucoup pour votre gentil commentaire! :)

[MerrillA1]

I will definitely make this, one the veggies.

[Ronna Farley]

Great way to use homegrown veggies!!!

[Handy_Bear]

Thanks!