Ratatʻulu

Ingredients

• • 1 mature ʻulu – fresh or 24 oz. recipe ready ʻulu
  • 7 or 8 Kamuela tomatoes
  • 3 or 4 Italian egglant
  • 2 large zucchini

Oil Mixture

• • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic pressed
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp black pepper
  • 2 Tbsp rosemary
  • 1 Tbsp thyme
  • 2 Tbsp sage
  • 2 Tbsp basil
  • 2 Tbsp lemon balm
  • 1 Tbsp marjoram
  • 1 Tbsp oregano
  • 3 tablespoons white cooking wine
  • 1 tsp lemon zest

Other

• 1 large bowl of water
• ½ lemon squeezed
• parmesean grated (optional)
• Sprigs of herbs for garnish

Directions

1. Quarter and remove the stem and core of the fresh mature ʻulu fruit. Soak in lemon water bath to prevent browning. Peeling the skin is optional.
2. Thinly slice the ʻulu to 1/16” inch thickness and all vegetables to 1/8” inch thickness. Soak the fresh ʻulu and eggplant in a bowl of lemon water to prevent browning. Thinly slice the tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini. A mandoline slicer is useful for this step.
3. If you are using recipe-ready ʻulu, slice it as thin as possible. There is no need to soak this ʻulu in lemon water since it is already par-cooked.
4. Lightly oil a large baking pan and layer the sliced ʻulu, tomato, eggplant and zucchini from one side of the pan to the other. You may need to make more or less layers of ʻulu in between depending on the total slices available.
5. Combine the olive oil, minced garlic, finely chopped herbs, wine, salt and pepper and mix well. Use fresh herbs if possible.
6. Drizzle the pan of sliced vegetables with the oil mixture evenly with a spoon.
7. Heat the oven to 380F and bake the pan uncovered for 40 about minutes until the vegetables start to brown.
8. Remove the pan from the oven. Cover with parmesan cheese, and more black pepper. Top with sprigs of a medley of fresh herbs. (note: cheese is optional)
9. Finish the ratatʻulu in the oven for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
10. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of olive oil over the ratatʻulu before serving.

Notes:

When layering, tuck in the layers together every so often so that the slices are standing tight vertically in the pan.

When removing the pan in step six, check to see if there is more than 1/4″ of liquid at the bottom of the pan. If there is too much liquid drain the excess out carefully by tipping a corner of the pan over a pot.

The oil mixture is flexible. You may use different types of herbs and spices to your liking!