Ratatouille & The Family Connection It Provides

Ratatouille

My mom used to make ratatouille in the summer months, especially for cookouts. It’s amazing how some meals or recipes can really take you back. Her version was a bit different from my anti-inflammatory recipe here but lots of similarities. She did not use eggplant in hers and she would use canned plum tomatoes and crush them down. She also did hers on the cooktop rather than in the oven. My mom also never documented the recipe – it was just off the top of her head yet it came out the same wonderful flavor every time. I love this recipe for how it brings me back to more simple times and having my mom’s amazing cooking.

I also always loved the children’s movie “Ratatouille”. It was one of my favs that we would rewatch a lot. May have something to do with that childhood connection. Love how the movie teaches to never lose touch with your roots and those that matter most to you. An all around feel good movie. The highlight for me was how they made the Ratatouille in the movie. It was the layering aspect.

I never saw it done that way! Just how my mom made it. A few years ago, I tried this method but it was (in direct terms), awful. So I got remotivated to try the oven baked version again. After my 3^rd attempt, I am really pleased with the flavor this dish provides along with the anti-inflammatory ingredients. The onion and garlic (pre-cooking them) make the flavor pop! Since there are plenty of tomatoes in this meal (or side dish), I thought we should highlight their nutritional benefits.

*Side note, since tomatoes are considered to be a nightshade, some people may have a sensitivity to them.

High in Lycopene – antioxidant – the deeper the red color, the more lycopene and beneficial health effects
High in Vitamin C
High in Fiber
Also a great source of potassium, folate, and Vitamin K.
Anti-cancer properties