The Best Ratatouille

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 6 servings as a main, 12 servings as a side
  • Total: 1 hr
  • Active: 25 min
Summer delivers a bounty of fresh vegetables all at once and we scramble to use them up before they become scarce again. This southern French staple is the perfect way to get all your summer goodies into one dish. As the stew slowly simmers, the flavors mingle in the most perfect of ways, giving you a dish that is stunning on its own or equally fabulous served alongside grilled meats or fish.
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Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 yellow bell peppers, diced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups) 

1 large yellow onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 2 cups) 

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

1 large eggplant (1 1/2 pounds), diced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 9 cups) 

1 large zucchini (1 pound), diced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 1/2 cups) 

3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon) 

3 tablespoons tomato paste 

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional 

1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, diced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 cups) 

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for serving 

6 large fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for serving 

Directions

  1. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute. Add the bell peppers, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent and the bell peppers have softened slightly, about 10 minutes. Add the eggplant, the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring often, until the eggplant is very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the zucchini and continue to cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste and red pepper flakes, if using. Cook, stirring often, until the zucchini has softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Stir in the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the ratatouille has reached a thick stew-like consistency, about 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley and basil with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon into a bowl and sprinkle with more fresh parsley and basil before serving.

Let's Get Cooking!

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mel.c.hamilton

Ugh, so I'm going to be one of those people who "followed" the recipe ... but with changes - based on recommendations from commenters and my own experience as a home cook. Had home grown tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, basil, parsley, and peppers.<br /><br />The changes:<br /><br />Chopped all the veggies except the garlic. Salted the eggplant and set aside. Roasted the rest of the veggies and garlic cloves in olive oil for 30 minutes. Fished out the cloves. Set veggies aside. Roasted the eggplant in olive oil for 30 minutes. While the eggplant was roasting, I sauteed a small can of tomato paste in olive oil. Added the pepper flakes. Crushed and added the garlic. Added a 1/4 C of red wine. Added a splash of red wine vinegar. Added pepper. Added the veggies. Added water to thin. (Probably didn't need so much paste.) When the eggplant was done, tossed it in. Covered and simmered as I heated water for spaghetti. Stew was perfect when the spaghetti was done. Tossed in the herbs at the last minute. <br /><br />As I ate it I said, "omigod" after every bite. It was that good. Even my veggie-averse husband loved it. IMO, roasting veggies makes everything better.

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