What To Serve With Ratatouille: Sides & Compliments

Ratatouille is a French Provençal stewed vegetable dish. It’s one of the most famous dishes in all of France, and it’s also very delicious! The ingredients vary from region to region, but they often include tomatoes, onion, garlic, courgettes (zucchini), potatoes, bell peppers, eggplants, green beans, and different spices and herbs. The origin of ratatouille traces back to Provence in southern France, where it was originally eaten by poor people who needed food that could be stored for long periods without refrigeration. The name “ratatouille” comes from an archaic French word meaning “to stir.”

The vegetables are cooked in olive oil until they are soft, and then tomato puree is added to the mixture. After it has been simmering for 30 minutes, chopped fresh basil leaves are stirred in before the entire dish is allowed to cool down. The sauce can be eaten on its own or poured over pasta or rice as an accompaniment for dinner!

With that said, Ratatouille is a great dish for summertime – it’s tasty, easy to make, and can be served with many different side dishes. There are many options for what to serve with ratatouille!

This article talks about some of the best choices for serving ratatouille and includes several recipes you can try out.

White Bean Salad

This salad is a great option for serving with ratatouille. White beans are high in protein, making them an excellent source of energy to keep you going throughout the day. The flavor goes well with both tomatoes and bell peppers! White bean salad is also very healthy, as it contains lots of fiber and antioxidants, which can help to protect your body from certain diseases.

Homemade Cornbread

This homemade cornbread recipe is very easy to make, and it’s also great for serving with ratatouille. It does not take long at all, just about 15 minutes total! The best thing about this particular bread is that the individual pieces are moist when served hot – they stay fresh in your fridge or on your countertop for several days if kept sealed in an airtight container. This makes them convenient to bring along as a side dish wherever you go.

Wheat Bread

Wheat bread is another great side dish you can serve alongside ratatouille. It’s very versatile, and it also works well for sandwiches or French toast if you prefer to use it that way. Wheat bread has many benefits, such as containing iron which helps your body produce red blood cells and prevents anemia (a condition in which the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is abnormally low).

Egg Noodles

Egg noodles are a popular choice for serving with ratatouille because they’re from the same part of the world. Serving ratatouille with egg noodles will help you put forward a healthy and nutritious meal for your family or guests. Although egg noodle packets are available at the grocery store, if you have time you can make them from scratch.

Butternut Squash Risotto

Butternut squash risotto is another great side dish option to serve with ratatouille because it’s so hearty and filling! You can’t go wrong when serving this creamy yet crunchy risotto alongside your delicious ratatouille because both dishes get their unique flavors from France. And they’re each very rich in their own way, which makes the combination work so well together.

Cauliflower Rice

Is there a better pairing than cauliflower rice and ratatouille? The earthy flavours of cauliflower match greatly with the bold, savoury and vibrant flavours and textures of summer vegetables. Zucchini, eggplants, basil, and tomatoes sink softly into the bed of cauliflower rice. Ensure that your rice is infused with the flavour of garlic, lemon zest, and shallots.

Root Vegetable Mash

Don’t stick to one vegetable when making this flavorful side dish. Use your imagination and bring in different flavours of root vegetables together. The combination of veggies like parsnips, sweet potatoes, red potatoes with butter and garlic creates a creamy side dish to pair with the savoury flavours of ratatouille.

Broccoli Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing

This is probably the easiest side dish for ratatouille. This broccoli and kale salad includes a few ingredients and everything can be done within 15 minutes. So if you are short on time, this is a side dish that you can go for. When preparing the salad, ensure that you don’t add too much lemon juice as ratatouille already has some sourness, which can be overpowering if both dishes were to have the same amount of acidity.

Cheese Grits

Last but not least is a side dish that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser – cheesy grits! For those who are looking for something simple and easy to make alongside your ratatouille dinner plate – cheesy grits are the way to go.

Mushroom Rice Pilaf

A nice rice dish pairs well with ratatouille; add mushrooms to the rice, and you will take the entire flavour to a notch higher. You can use whatever time of mushroom you prefer. Serving mushroom rice pilaf with your ratatouille is a perfect way to put forward a hearty meal for your loved ones.

Polenta

It is easy to make a side dish, simply put your polenta in the instant pot and cook it well. Spread it over and allow it to cool. Throw it in the oven until the polenta turns crispy. The crunchy delight will complement the soft texture of your main dish.

Another great dish that can go well with ratatouille is cheesy polenta. Similar to pasta and rice, polenta is also a common side dish with ratatouille. This combination of crispy vegetables and cornmeal makes a well-balanced meal. The juice from the cooked vegetable serves as the sauce that enriches the simple flavour and texture of polenta. Top the meal with goat cheese to add a distinctive flavour to your comforting meal.

Spaetzle

Combining your ratatouille with pasta means you have a hearty, comforting meal in front of you. The goodness of zucchini, eggplant and tomato combined with basil and thyme brings you scrumptious flavour. Furthermore, when it is tossed with pasta it makes the flavour more enriched.

Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ratatouille is a dish that includes tons of vine-ripened tomatoes. But why restricted our meal to a single flavour profile? Sun-dried tomatoes are dried to remove the natural sweetness, bringing a unique flavour. Toss these tomatoes with some butter and basil, and you have the perfect side dish for your main recipe.

Flank Steak

Serve your ratatouille with a juicy steak. While you can choose any cut, flank steak, which is cooked well, can be a great choice. The rich flavours of eggplant, bell pepper, and tomatoes pair well with the juicy flavours of beef. Moreover, it is a highly nutritious and filling meal.

Quinoa

If you want something filling like rice without the added calories, you can go for quinoa. It will fill your tummy without the guilt of consuming too many calories. Additionally, the earthy flavours of quinoa complement well with the strong flavours of vegetables and herbs.

Italian Sausage

Smoky Italian sausage over your ratatouille will bring an explosion of meat and vegetable flavours. You can even cook the vegetable in the sausage fat to enrich the overall flavours. While it is not the healthiest dish on our list, we all deserve a cheat day.

Pasta

Ratatouille and pasta is a combination that you can never go wrong with. The caramelized juices from your baked veggies make for the perfect sauce for the pasta. You don’t have to fuss with making different sauces. Place your juicy ratatouille over the bed of pasta and top it with grated parmesan and herm of your choice. And you can choose whatever pasta you want for this recipe.

Chicken

Another great combination is chicken and ratatouille. This pairing never fails to win hearts. Serve them with bread and green salad, and you have a hearty feast on the table. You can either grill or roast your chicken; it will be a well-rounded meal.

Veal

Ratatouille is extremely tender and moist, so accompanying it with something chewier and drier will be perfect. A lean, as well as a flavoursome chunk of veal, can be a great choice. It will add a depth of texture as well as flavour. And not to forget all the nutrition you get from it.

Fried Egg

You don’t always have to go over the top with your meal. Sometimes even the simplest dishes can make a complete and wholesome meal. Ratatouille is boasted with flavour, so a simple egg dish will be sufficient to finish it off. You can either fry the eggs or poach them according to your preference. Moreover, you can also add rice and make a wholesome, nutritious bowl.

Bread

Other than rice, ratatouille also works great with bread. Whether it is Tuscan, baguette, ciabatta or sourdough, a thick slice of crusty bread will perfectly accompany your main dish. Other than the heartiness it offers, bread also brings a contrasting texture. Dip your bread to soak up the flavours of the vegetable juice.

Lamb

A perfectly seasoned lamb leg is the perfect side dish for your ratatouille. It is among the most Provencal combinations and for the right reason. Marinate your lamb in thyme, olive oil, lemon, garlic, rosemary, pepper, and salt. A well-grilled lamb offers an intense umami flavour that will perfectly contrast the simplicity of the ratatouille.

Pork Chops

Ratatouille tastes excellent with different types of meat; therefore, you cannot go wrong with a well-cooked piece of pork. If you want something decadent and rich to balance the flavours of your vegetables, combine it with tender and moist pork chops.

Potato Leek Chowder

This particular soup is conventionally made using bacon, but if you are vegetarian or vegan, this side dish is for you. The leeks are the main ingredients of this hearty dish as they provide a salty taste. Moreover, the potatoes add an earthy base, completing the rich flavours of vegetables nicely.

Garlic Breadsticks

This particular dish is so versatile that it goes well with any dish you pair it with. These are made with baguette dough, so you get heartiness without feeling too bready. Additionally, brush it with butter and freshly chopped garlic and put it in the oven and serve hot. Additionally, it is easy to make a dish that won’t take much time.

Sauteed Mushrooms With White Wine

This classic recipe goes well with your main dish. It only needs a couple of ingredients, and you are good to go. The white wine adds a certain tanginess, which will work well with your cooked vegetables.

Conclusion

These are some of the most popular side dishes that you can serve with ratatouille. However, don’t just limit yourself to these dishes. There are many to explore and even better. If you love cooking, there are even more options available to you. There’s no limit to the possibilities when it comes to cooking, so get creative and start experimenting! You can never go wrong with ratatouille as the main course, but some of these recipes will be sure to have your guests asking for seconds!