Ratatouille

Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a classic end-of-summer French stew that’s fun to say (rat-tuh-TOO-ee) and fun to make. It’s packed with fresh produce: tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash, and bell pepper.

Ratatouille

Healthy dish which became well know by kids after famous Ratatouille cartoon
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Ingredients
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for serving
  • 1 1/2 pounds eggplant (1 large), large dice
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 pounds zucchini or summer squash (3 to 4 medium squash), large dice
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 pound tomatoes (3 to 4 medium), large dice
  • 1 large bell pepper, large dice
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced, plus more for serving
Directions
Step 1
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the eggplant, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
Step 2
Add 2 tablespoons of the oil to the pot. Add the zucchini, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the eggplant.
Step 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and just beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, and bay leaf and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and bell peppers. Add the reserved eggplant and zucchini and gently stir to combine.Bring to a simmer, then turn down the heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 20 minutes or up to 1 1/2 hours. A shorter cooking time will leave vegetables in larger, more distinct pieces
Step 4
longer cooking times will break the vegetables down into a silky stew.
Step 5
Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Just before serving, stir in the basil. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve, sprinkling each serving with more basil and drizzling with more olive oil.