Dreaming about the warmer days of summer, when the garden is overflowing and the kitchen is packed with produce? Think ratatouille! A hearty, healthy French stew of eggplant, zucchini, sweet peppers, and ripe summer tomatoes.
Originating from Provence, a region in the south of France near the Mediterranean Sea, ratatouille is bright and chunky, rich with olive oil and fragrant with garlic and herbs. Making it properly takes a bit of time, so you may decide cooking a big batch on a lazy Sunday so you’ll have a tasty and colorful base for meals throughout the week. You’ll be so glad you did.
INGREDIENTS:
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more for serving
1 1/2 pounds eggplant (1 large), large dice
1 1/2 pounds zucchini or summer squash (3 to 4 medium squash), large dice
1 medium yellow onion, diced
6 small red potatoes ( optional )
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
1/4 cup minced parsley
2 springs fresh rosemary
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
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.
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.
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 the vegetables in larger, more distinct pieces; longer cooking times will break the vegetables down into a silky stew.
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.