Confit Byaldi (Thomas Keller's Ratatouille)

Step 1

For the piperade: Heat the oven to 450°F. Place pepper halves on a foil-lined sheet, cut side down. Roast until the skin loosens, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Peel and chop finely.

Step 2

Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-low to medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until very soft but not browned, about 8 minutes.

Step 3

Add tomatoes, their juices, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf. Simmer uncovered over low heat until very soft and very little liquid remains, about 10 to 15 minutes, but do not brown.

Step 4

Add peppers and simmer to soften them. Season the mixture with salt, and discard the herbs.

Step 5

Reserve 1 tablespoon of the mixture for the vinaigrette and spread the remainder in the bottom of a 9-inch oven-proof skillet (I use a 9-inch All-Clad French skillet).

Step 6

For the vegetables: Heat the oven to 275°F. Starting from the outside working inward, arrange alternating slices of vegetables over the piperade, overlapping so that ¼ inch of each slice is exposed. Repeat until the pan is filled. You may not use all of the vegetables.

Step 7

Mix the garlic, oil, and thyme leaves in bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle over the vegetables.

Step 8

Cover the pan with foil and crimp the edges to seal well. Bake until the vegetables are tender when tested with a paring knife, about 2 hours. Uncover and bake for 30 minutes more. (Lightly cover with foil if it starts to brown.) If there is excess liquid in pan, place over medium heat on stove until reduced. (At this point it may be cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Serve cold or reheat in 350°F oven until warm.)

Step 9

For the vinaigrette: Combine the reserved 1 tablespoon piperade, oil, vinegar, herbs, and salt and pepper in a bowl.

Step 10

To serve: Heat the broiler and place the confit byaldi underneath until just barely browned. Portion into quarters and very carefully lift each portion onto a plate with an offset spatula. Turn the spatula 90 degrees, guiding the byaldi into a fan shape. Drizzle the vinaigrette around the plate. Serve hot.