Ratatouille
Ratatouille, a dish with humble beginnings in Provence, France, has evolved from a simple peasant meal into a gourmet status symbol, embodying the essence of Provençal cooking with its locally grown vegetables. This dish’s story parallels the communal spirit of creativity seen in ‘Ratatouille: The Musical’, an online sensation that brought together global talent to create a symphonic blend of flavors and music.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cooking Time
40 minutes
Servings
This recipe serves 4 people.
Ingredients
- Eggplant, 1 medium (about 300g)
- Zucchini, 2 medium (about 400g)
- Yellow squash, 2 medium (about 400g)
- Red bell pepper, 1 large (about 200g)
- Tomatoes, 4 medium (about 600g)
- Olive oil, 60ml (4 tablespoons)
- Garlic cloves, 3, minced
- Fresh basil, 20g (a handful of leaves)
- Salt, 5g (1 teaspoon)
- Pepper, 2g (1/2 teaspoon)
- Optional: Thyme, Rosemary, or Bay leaves, 2g (1/2 teaspoon each)
Method
- Begin by preheating your oven to 190°C (375°F).
- Wash all vegetables. Cut the eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash into 1/4 inch slices. Dice the red bell pepper and slice the tomatoes.
- In a large baking dish, layer the sliced eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, and tomatoes.
- In a small bowl, mix olive oil, minced garlic, chopped basil, salt, and pepper (add thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves if using). Drizzle this mixture over the vegetables.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned.
- Serve warm, garnished with additional fresh basil if desired.
Ratatouille is a vibrant and nutritious dish that captures the heart of Provençal cuisine with its simple yet flavorful combination of vegetables and herbs. It’s a testament to the power of simplicity in cooking, proving that a dish doesn’t need to be complicated to be utterly delicious. Whether enjoyed on its own or as a side, ratatouille offers a delightful taste of French culinary tradition.
Nutritional Information (Approx)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fiber: 9g
- Sugar: 13g