How do roasted vegetables (potatoes, zucchini, eggplants, onions, and tomatoes) with a bunch of spices, garlic, some greens, and a generous drizzle of olive oil sound to you? If you’re thinking of Ratatouille, you’re wrong! That’s right, today’s recipe calls for Greece’s briam, and it’s a text-book Mediterranean diet.

Which Came First, Briam or Ratatoillle?

There is quite the debate on whether briam should be called the Greek ratatouille or ratatouille should be the called French briam. Truth is, nobody knows for sure which recipe came first, but it doesn’t matter. Both dishes represent a perfect take on roasted vegetables, although, in some parts of France, people like to use the stovetop to prepare their ratatouille.

Of course, the Greek briam recipe has hundreds of variations, but this one comes from the island of Patmos.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ lb gold potatoes (3-4 medium-sized)
• 1 ¼ lb zucchini squash (2-3 regular-sized)
• 1 ¼ lb eggplants (optional, 2 regular-sized)
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• Greek extra virgin olive oil (any other would do but let’s try to be traditional)
• 30-oz canned diced tomatoes with juice (unsalted and organic products are recommended)
• 1 large red onion
• Salt and Pepper

As stated above, this Greek classic varies by region, so feel free to adjust the ingredients by adding or removing other veggies and spices. For example, replacing the potatoes with bell pepper would make this dish even lower in carbs. A dash of piney rosemary would give it a pleasant kick, and serving this with feta cheese would make a huge difference.

Preparing the Briam

For presentation purposes, this exact recipe calls for thinly sliced veggies and a round pan or skillet (11-inch would do). However, this recipe works great with thicker chunk cuts roasted in a square casserole, especially if time is pushing you.

• Preheat the oven to 400 F and place a rack in the middle.
• Season and toss the veggies with salt, pepper, oregano, (and other spices of your choice).
• Pour half of the canned tomatoes into your pan or skillet and spread to cover the bottom.
• Arrange the rest of the veggies into the pan
• Top with a generous drizzle of olive oil, minced garlic, and the rest of the tomatoes.
• Bake for 45 minutes covered with foil
• Remove foil and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes until most of the liquid evaporates and veggies look soft and charred.
• Cool to room temperature and serve.

Everyone loves a hot dog, right? Whether you love yours smothered in onions, cheese, chilli, or any other delicious topping, there’s no doubt about the fact that nobody cooks a hot dog quite like those in America. It’s become one of the most iconic foods that this country has to offer, and it seems as though every eatery tries to out-do their competition to offer the best hot dogs in America.

Dirt Dog Inc – Los Angeles, California

If you’re the kind of person that loves their hot dog with all of the trimmings, then you’ll be happy to know that Dirt Dog Inc loves to make theirs dirty. As if their hot dogs wrapped in bacon weren’t enough to tickle your pickle, these hot dogs also come with a variety of other toppings for you to choose from. Of course, you’ve gotta order their famous fries as well…

Doogies – Newington, Connecticut

Feeling hungry? Well, Doogies offers a two-foot-long hot dog that will definitely leave you feeling full and with a smile on your face. The size of these things are impressive, but what’s even more impressive is the fact that Doogies has so many different flavor combinations to choose from. Our personal favorite is the Man V Food hot dog, which features onions, chilli, cheese, bacon, and hot peppers.

Botsky’s – Lake Charles, Louisiana

If you find yourself hanging out around Lake Charles in Louisiana, it would be rude not to drop into Botsky’s and say hi, right? Oh, and taste one of their amazing hot dogs. Featuring hot dogs like the Duck Norris and the Slawdog Millionaire, you can guarantee that these hot dogs will take your breath away. In fact, we’re salivating right now thinking of these dogs.

You can never have enough hot dogs, so why not travel across the country to try out the best hot dogs in America? We’re happy to come along for support.