Ratatouille is something you have once and fall in love with for the rest of your life. Since it is so delicious, you surely do not want to serve it alongside the wrong side dish. Next time you prepare this meal, make sure you know exactly what you are cooking with it.
Stay tuned to find out what to eat with ratatouille! These dishes are all delicious and add more flavor to your meal.
What Is Ratatouille?
Ratatouille is a French provençal dish consisting of vegetables cooked as a stew. The recipe originated in Nice and includes ingredients such as tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and eggplant. This dish comes seasoned with garlic and herbs like thyme, basil, marjoram, and herbs de Provence.
The term ratatouille comes from the French verb touiller, which means to stir up. While the cooking methods vary, some people believe you should cook the vegetables first and then add the rest of the ingredients. However, others believe everything should be slow cooked together for a while.
Similar dishes exist in other cuisines, such as pisto in Spain, caponata in Italy, and peperonata in Tunisia. More recently, the word ratatouille became famous thanks to the Disney animated movie with the same name. After this, Americans and other cultures became more interested in this dish.
Nutrition Facts
One cup of ratatouille (215 g) has the following nutritional content (*):
140 calories
2.36 g protein
10.2 g fat
12.3 g carbohydrate
4.08 g fiber
7.29 g sugar
45.2 mg calcium
0.968 mg iron
30.1 mg magnesium
62.4 mg phosphorus
471 mg potassium
327 mg sodium
38.3 mg vitamin C
43 µg vitamin A
Ratatouille is a delicious dish, whether it is the main one or a side one. You can make it as healthy as you want by choosing a healthy fat like olive oil. If you want, you could even add some meat or beans for extra protein, though it would not be a ratatouille per se.
What Goes With Ratatouille
Below are some side dishes for ratatouille that you can serve at any time!
#1. Rice Pilaf
If you have trouble coming up with ideas for what you serve with ratatouille, then this rice pilaf recipe is for you. Not only is it easy, but also very flavorful.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 yellow onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
2 cups rice
2 cups vegetable broth
½ cup water
1 teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon paprika
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your rice pilaf:
Wash and clean your vegetables. Chop them and set them aside.
Warm up the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic.
Stir in the onion and bell pepper. Cook at low heat for 5 minutes.
Add the rice to the saucepan and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes until it smells toasted.
Add turmeric, paprika, and oregano.
Stir in the water, broth, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
Bring the liquid to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Cook the rice for 25-30 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
Serve your rice pilaf fluffy and warm.
#2. Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
For those looking for a tasty vegetable that also happens to be healthy, this parmesan roasted broccoli is just right. You can add more ingredients, such as cauliflower, pine nuts, or zucchini.
Ingredients:
1 broccoli head
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your parmesan roasted broccoli:
Preheat the oven to 375 °F.
Wash and clean your broccoli. Cut the broccoli head into smaller pieces.
Place the broccoli in a large bowl.
Stir in olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
Toss well and place the broccoli on a baking sheet.
Pour any leftover oil mixture on top of the broccoli.
Roast everything for 15 minutes.
Remove the baking sheet and move the broccoli around.
Add the parmesan cheese on top.
Bake for 5-8 more minutes or until the cheese melts.
Serve your parmesan roasted broccoli hot with ratatouille on the side.
#3. Herbed Polenta
Polenta is one of those dishes that you fall in love with very quickly. In this case, the seasoning pairs perfectly with your ratatouille.
Ingredients:
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup polenta
½ cup parsley, chopped
⅓ cup chives, chopped
2 tablespoons rosemary
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your herbed polenta:
Add the broth to a pot. Once the liquid boils, start adding the polenta slowly.
Whisk continuously until it begins to thicken.
Reduce the heat. Add the parsley, chives, rosemary, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Cook over a slow simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until the consistency is creamy.
Serve the herbed polenta warm and drizzle olive oil on top.
#4. Carrot and Sweet Potato Mash
When it comes to sweet and savory, carrots and sweet potatoes are a great idea. This recipe is simple, yet the flavors are unique!
Ingredients:
2 sweet potatoes
4 large carrots
½ stick butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your carrot and sweet potato mash:
Wash, peel, and chop your potatoes and carrots into smaller chunks.
Transfer them to a pot with water and salt. Allow the water to boil, then reduce the heat, and cook for about 25 minutes.
Continue cooking until the liquid is gone. Stir in the whipping cream and mix vigorously.
Transfer your cooked sweet potatoes and carrots to a blender.
Blend for a couple of minutes until smooth or until they reach the consistency you like.
Return to the pot and warm up over low heat.
Serve hot next to ratatouille.
#5. Oven-Roasted Chicken
When you want to add protein to your ratatouille meal, a juicy oven-roasted chicken can be the best idea. Although it might sound complicated, this recipe is easy and delicious.
Ingredients:
1 whole chicken ready to roast
1 shallot, chopped
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon rosemary
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your oven-roasted chicken:
Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
Your chicken should be clean and ready to cook, but if it is not, take this time to clean it thoroughly. Remove all excess flesh and organs.
Place the chicken in a baking or roasting pan.
Season the inside of your chicken with salt and pepper.
Melt the butter in the microwave and transfer it to a bowl.
Add the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
Using a brush, spread the mixture over the skin of the chicken. Pour the remaining mixture inside the chicken, allowing it to fall onto the sides of the pan.
Place some of the chopped shallots inside the chicken and the rest next to the chicken.
Roast the chicken for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Check on it every half an hour.
Remove the chicken from the oven and cover with tin foil. Allow it to sit covered for another 15 minutes.
Serve your oven-roasted chicken hot with ratatouille on the side.
#6. Italian Sausage Bolognese
To continue with the warm and tomato-based dishes, this Italian sausage bolognese is a filling and complex meal. You can add more vegetables.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground Italian sausage
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 yellow onion, diced
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 can of crushed or diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon dry parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your Italian sausage bolognese:
Add the olive oil and garlic to a large saucepan. Once hot, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes.
Stir in the sausage. Cook for 5 more minutes until it browns.
Stir in the broth, tomatoes, thyme, cinnamon, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper.
Allow the sauce to a bubble, and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Serve your Italian sausage bolognese with pappardelle pasta and ratatouille on the side.
#7. Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
This pasta is one to remember! Not only is it creamy and decadent, but also very quick to make.
Ingredients:
⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 yellow onion, diced
1 cup milk
½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon basil
½ box farfalle pasta
½ cup parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Follow these steps to prepare your sun-dried tomato pasta:
Cook the pasta in a pot with water and salt according to box instructions. Drain and reserve a bit of the cooking water.
While the pasta cooks, add the olive oil and garlic to a saucepan.
Add the onion to the saucepan and cook for a couple of minutes.
Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, basil, salt, and pepper—Cook for another minute.
Add the milk and broth. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Add a bit of the pasta cooking water and simmer for a few more minutes.
Stir in the cooked pasta and cook for about 5 more minutes.
Serve your sun-dried tomato pasta warm with ratatouille on the side.
How Can I Pick The Perfect Ratatouille Sides?
Ratatouille is a classic dish, but sometimes it is not a whole meal. Any of these side dishes add a bit more to your ratatouille and complement it well. Be sure to try one or two of these recipes together!
For times when you want to keep things strictly vegetarian, then a heavier starch is a great choice. Try the rice pilaf that is subtle yet filling. You can also go with the herbed polenta for creamy goodness.
When it comes to adding protein, you should add animal protein. The oven-roasted chicken is always a family favorite. You can also try the Italian sausage bolognese, which is a little spicy and sweet.
For all other occasions, try something that makes your ratatouille stand out. The carrot and sweet potato mash is simple and tasty and pairs well with the parmesan roasted broccoli. Otherwise, go with the sun-dried tomato pasta that is decadent and unique.
Conclusion
Ratatouille is not something that you take lightly. Some people swear by it, and others have never tried it. Either way, all these ratatouille meals are a great choice to pair with your favorite ratatouille recipe.
Juliana has a BA in Journalism and Creative Writing as well as a M.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics, and Sensory Sciences. She loves traveling, trying new foods, and cooking. When she isn’t busy working, you can find her running with her dog Milo or reading a book in the sun.
