Before it is too late, let’s turn some of the season’s best vegetables– peppers, squash, onions,and eggplant- into a healthy, delicious and fun dish. Open Faced Ratatouille Melt with Homemade Pesto is what I like to call my take on the classic Rautouille Dish.
I was in the mood for ( and by that I mean I am pregnant and was CRAVING) a really really good sandwich. My sweet sister-in-law Carey from Providence sent me home a large selection of vegetables she has been growing in her outdoor garden over the 4th and I have to say, she is quite the little farmer. I mean, I wouldn’t expect anything less since she married into a farming family but she has definitely got one leg up on me with the gardening skills. Her squash are the biggest and sweetest squash I have ever seen or tasted- just take a look at these beauties. Can you believe it?
All this leads me to the Ratatouille Sandwich. I wanted to do my own twist on a vegetable sandwich and make it so incredibly irresistible that my husband could not say no ( he is a meat lover). I decided to use Mediterranean ingredients and combine that with my homemade pesto, fresh sliced mozzarella cheese and you guessed it- prosciutto. To me, nothing beats the marriage of mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. These vegetables all atop a crispy mouth-watering piece of Artisan Sourdough Bread is something no one can resist. I expected it to be good but not this good.
Although the balsamic roasted red bell peppers, onion and jalapeno peppers definitely contributed a lot of the flavor, I think the star of the show was the Panko crusted squash and eggplant. I thought pan-frying the eggplant and squash much like you would do for an Eggplant Parmesan dish would up the anty so to speak for the flavor. I seasoned my breadcrumbs, dredged those little veggies in eggwhite and then watched as pure magic happened right before my eyes. As I was examining and flipping the veggies to obtain the perfect crispness I couldn’t help to find myself drooling over the thought of these crispy veggies loaded with roasted peppers and combined with cheese, prosciutto and a touch of pesto. When the husband came home and said “Oh what smells so good?” I knew I had accomplished my task. We both loved this sandwich and I hope you will too. Don’t forget to have fun with it too- You can substitute the squash for zucchini, the eggplant with tomatoes and the onions for mushrooms.
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Open Faced Ratatouille Melt with Pesto
Ingredients: (serves 4 )
1 large squash, cleaned and thinly sliced vertically
1 large or 2 small eggplants, cleaned and thinly sliced vertically
1-2 red bell pepper, sliced
2 jalapeno peppers, sliced
1 small onion, sliced (like you would do for onion rings)
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp sea salt and fresh cracked pepper
2 cups Panko breadcrumbs (seasoned with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 tsp paprika)
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
4 ounces of freshly sliced mozzarella cheese
4 ounces of prosciutto
olive oil for frying
4-5 TBSP of pesto
1 loaf of fresh Artisan Sourdough Bread or your favorite time of bread
Directions:
Drizzle the red bell peppers, onion and jalapeno peppers with a touch of olive oil, the balsamic vinegar and season with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. Roast at 400 for 15-20 minutes Set aside.
Dredge the sliced squash and eggplant into the egg white then into the breadcrumbs. Heat 1 inch of olive oil in a non-stick skillet and in batches pan-fry the eggplant and squash until golden and crisp- approximately 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. Set aside.
To assemble: Spread pesto on the bottom layer of the sandwich. Top with a layer of squash, then eggplant, then onion, red pepper, jalapeno pepper, mozzarella cheese and the prosciutto. Place on a baking sheet and broil until cheese is melted (watch carefully as to not burn the sandwich). Serve open-faced or top with the other layer of bread- your call!
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Oh this is just a great recipe to start the week of with!! This is my kind of sandwich.I love grilled veggies and love to eat them all Summer long but haven’t tried them like this.This recipe I am really looking forward to sinking my teeth into!!
oh i love how you compare mozzarella and prosciutto to a perfect marriage- I do the same thing with other foods because its just such a great description! That sandwich looks awesome, glad the husband liked it too!
I guess we were both craving veggie sandwiches this weekend…and I’m not pregnant!! Breading the eggplant and squash added another flavor and crisp appeal to this open faced sandwich – I like that and the topping of a slice of proscuitto….yum!
Your recipes are so awesome! Love this! Sometimes it feels so good not to put meat in a dish the veggies you picked all taste so great together!
This sounds innovative and amazing. Rautouille on its own is excellent, you’ve taken it to another level!
This looks really crispy and delicious! Im loving this idea so keep those craving comings! Maybe you could get you sister-n-law to share some of her gardening tips with us. This would be perfect for the farmers who are out all day in this heat with very little appetite. Will have to fix this up for my man. Harvest starts today…Hello long hours.
Ha! If only it were that easy. She has like this magic or something! You should see her garden!
This looks delicious!!!
You just can’t beat “fresh from the garden” veggies, can you? I love what you have done with them, Jessica. You have kicked this up notches unknown with this creation of yours. Love it!
Wow! What a great sounding sandwich. A real summer treat.
Mmmm! Panko crusted eggplant on a sandwich with prosciutto and cheese? De.Lish. That is one hearty looking sandwich–I know you enjoyed that one! 🙂
Firstly, the homegrown veggies are just fantastic! And secondly, your Open Faced Rautouille Melt With Pesto looks incredibly delicious! Love all the ingredients in it. Thanks for sharing! Have a lovely day!
This looks amazing!
simply delicious and awesome….great click…making me hungry right now 🙁
Omg this sandwich looks amazing. I’m loving the prosciutto topping. Always makes everything better. 🙂
you have me drooling over veggies…who would’ve thought. this looks so delicious.
there’s just nothing better than a pile of homegrown veggies!! anne
OMG! I wish I could reach into my screan and grap one of those amazing creations
SO colourful and yummy
Hi Jessica, That looks SO good – wonderful flavors and so good and healthy.
Just to let you know – YOU wound the Cath Kidston Apron Giveaway!! Congrats – could you email me and let me know where to send it!
Thanks
Mary x
i am so excited! Thanks so much I will email you shortly!
Wow, that looks really, really good!
My husband is a meat lover too, but for this particular dish, I can just let him complain and let myself enjoy…. I usually eat this kind of veggie only dish at a restaurant but oh my, this looks so good. I’m not pregnant but I’m craving for this dish! 😉
I’d like to say that my hubby is the meat lover in my family but it’s me. I actually crave meat. No joke. I could eat chicken and steak daily…of course, with a salad. This meal is perfect for me.
Looks so wholesome and hearty yet healthy!
Gorgeous sandwich and so fresh with all the veggies. Bet it taste even better than one with meat!
Mmm, I love how you added the cheese! Now I’m in the mood for a sandwich!
I love ratatouille and pesto (separately), I’m thinking I would love the taste of your sandwich! Those are gorgeous looking vegetables from your sis-in-law 🙂
You would love it! the combo was great with just enough pesto to bring it over the top!
This is my favorite and most confusing time of year because the bounty is coming in and it’s hard to make final preparation decisions. I hate to throw out even the tiniest fresh vegetable and usually have a fresh soup working with the ends and slivers. This is a perfect summer sandwich. Thanks for sharing. Come visit when you can…
That is just so delicious looking! I am actually craving one of these sandwiches right now… I love pesto, and all those veggies… Must make this soon! Thanks for sharing 🙂
So creative with your bounty. What a way to satisfy a craving. Can I have a bite?
Those vegetables look amazing! And the sandwich was such a perfect use for them. Now you have me craving a fresh veggie sandwich too 🙂
Fabulous! Simply fabulous!!! I’m making this next week. This is totally my kind of dinner. 🙂
This takes an open faced sandwich to a whole new level! Wonderful use of flavours.
🙂 Mandy
I’m a sucker for a good sandwich…and that looks amazing!
Now you have me craving this and I’m not remotely pregnant, lol. Pesto, vegetables and cheese on bread?! Yes please!
The best open sandwich without meat!! Love it!
What a great sandwich! Love all the fresh veggies in it. I am new to your blog, and a big fan!
These are a few of our favorite things! I always make ratatouille for the freezer at the end of summer. This sandwich looks sooooo good that I need to make a batch right now. I just noticed yesterday that the basil needs a serious “haircut”.
Best,
Bonnie
Love Love this sandwich! 🙂
Really nice recipe. Absolutely mouth-watering!! Have you got anything left for me? Really a great sandwich and great picture!
Great sandwich, we love grilled veggies!! yummy pics!
Yum yum! Those open-faced melts sound SO delicious. And good for you too.
Hi There, This is looking absolutely delightful. Loved the new combo of ingredients and the recipe is so nicely made and presented. Saving this recipe of urs and wud love to give ur version a try on the coming weekend. Have a great day….Sonia !!!
The produce looks great!
The sandwich looks wonderful! Perfectly filling and fresh.
Oh my. I’m reading this at 1 am while I’m nursing my little one and suddenly I can’t wait until it’s day so I can make this. Totally drooling!
I may not be pregnant, but now you’ve got ME craving a delicious sandwich like this! That ratatouille has all of my favorite summer veggies and it is just perfect with that melted cheese on top!
I love this sandwich idea! I always have veggies left over I need to use and this is perfect. Must get that bread though because it looks amazing
that’s a very creative idea for frying the squash with breadcrumbs and totally look awesome! Jessice, you’re making me hungry now!!
You had me at rautouille! I love that dish and now on a sandwich it is even better!
I love grilled veggies! They’re so summery 🙂 Squash is my favorite!
Me and eggplant are not the best of friends, but this looks yummy! Just enough eggplant to be interesting, not so much as to be over powering the flavor. Thanks!
This is genius! My mouth is watering while I imagine all the different flavors in this! Great post!
What a tasty looking sandwich! I love all the fresh veggies!
Now THIS is a sandwich! What a combo of ingredients and you’re right….now’s the time to use all of the freshness that nature is giving us! Your recipes are always so creative and photos are just eye-candy!
Last week, I spent some time coming up with different ways to use up leftover ratatouille. I think this looks tasty. I added ratatouille to calzone and it was delicious.
Thanks for sharing your delicious sandwich with the Hearth and Soul Hop! I was telling my oldest son about your sandwich last night and he asked me when I was going to make it. 🙂
Wow- those are gorgeous! Gardening has surely been quite the learning experience. And we’re definitely still in the early part of the learning curve stage. I can’t wait to see (and taste!!) results like that!
p.s. Just got a composting bin… Hope it will help!
I love this sandwich! We made it for dinner last night and I had to come tell you how much we loved it! So perfect and easy for weeknights! Thanks for a great recipe
I’m a meat lover myself but I must say I nearly got chills when I saw your sandwich…Great pictures!
Thanks for sharing at the hearth and soul hop last week.
Jessica, I’m re-visiting this recipe from you since I just made pesto last night. I’ve got most, but not all of the ingredients (veggies) and will try it with what I have on hand. Sorry that I’ve been so busy as to not get in my visits and comments! I have read everything thru my google reader but just needed more time (this weekend) to say ‘hey there’ and leave a thought or two! PS: I’m moving to WP and was wondering what you think of it. Thanks, Roz
Hi Jessica, I made my version of your sandwich today with your recipe as a foundation. I hope you can come over and see it. I cited you with a link! Moving to WP soon and kinda nervous! xoxo Roz