French🥩 Meat

Ratatouille Shepherd's Pie

Name: Ratatouille Shepherd's Pie
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 lb spicy Italian sausage; 2 onion; 1 red bell pepper; 1 green bell pepper; 2 yellow squash; ¾ lb cherry tomatoes; 1½ cups canned diced tomatoes; 2 zucchini; 1 eggplant; to taste fresh basil; 1 tbsp fresh thyme; 1½ tbsp minced garlic; to taste Herbes de Provence; to taste salt; to taste black pepper; to taste harissa; to taste mashed potatoes; to taste butter; to taste Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese

⏱ 135 min

A comforting ratatouille shepherd's pie that combines caramelized vegetables with a savory meat base, topped with smooth and creamy mashed potatoes. This make-ahead dish is perfect for family dinners and can be prepared in advance.

Adapted from a video by Chef Jean-Pierre

The Shepherd’s Pie That Makes You Look Like You Went to Culinary School! 😉

Watch on YouTube

Ingredients

spicy Italian sausage1 lb
onion2
red bell pepper1
green bell pepper1
yellow squash2
cherry tomatoes¾ lb
canned diced tomatoes1½ cups
zucchini2
eggplant1
fresh basildivided: half for cooking, half added at the end for freshnessto taste
fresh thyme

Steps

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1
Remove the sausage from its casing and cook in a hot pan over medium-high heat until it releases enough fat.
2
Add the diced onions to the pan and sauté together with the sausage until both are a beautiful golden brown.
3
In a separate hot skillet, add the squash and zucchini with salt and pepper. Caramelize them to build deeper flavor rather than just steaming them.
4
Slice the eggplant, cut into long strips, then dice. Remove some of the skin but keep some for texture. Sauté in a pan until caramelized and golden.
5
Once caramelization develops, add the bell peppers to the squash and zucchini pan. Monitor each vegetable's doneness and coloring.
6
Once vegetables are nicely caramelized, add minced garlic and wait until fragrant. Add fresh thyme, rosemary, oregano, or Herbes de Provence when the garlic becomes aromatic.
7
Add the halved cherry tomatoes and the canned diced tomatoes, then reduce heat. Combine the cooked sausage mixture with all the sautéed vegetables and mix together.
8
Stir in half of the fresh basil. Simmer everything together for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, allowing all the flavors to marry together.
9
Once the vegetables are fully cooked, add the remaining fresh basil to preserve its fresh fragrance and bright flavor. Optionally add a touch of harissa for depth.
10
Butter the bottom of a baking dish lightly. Layer a portion of mashed potatoes on the bottom, add the ratatouille mixture on top, then finish with another layer of mashed potatoes. Use a piping bag for a more professional appearance if desired.
11
Sprinkle Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese over the potato topping. Layer more ratatouille mixture on top if desired, and add more cheese.
12
Place the baking dish in a preheated 375°F oven and bake until the top is beautifully golden brown, approximately 20-30 minutes.
13
Remove from the oven and let cool briefly before serving. The internal temperature should reach 155-160°F. If prepared in advance, refrigerate and reheat in the oven to an internal temperature of 155-160°F when ready to serve.

Ratatouille Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

Steps

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