Back to School | Main Dish | RECIPES | Summer
ByStephanie Wilson
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A Classic French Provencal Ratatouille is a hallmark of summer. Filled with late-summer veggies and fragrant herbs. It is an easy oven-baked dish, versatile, and even freezer-friendly.
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It has become a perennial dish in our family.
Surprising yet oh so grateful, I can thank Disney, at least in part, for a toddler son with an aversion to veggies, becoming a fan of this dish… (“Ratatouille,” the movie, was an early favorite of his).
Later, my sister-in-law made the dish for the family. Its memory lingers so that every summer since, it’s an August ritual on our summer table. As soon as the zucchini ripens on the vine, Ratatouille isn’t far from my mind.
History of Ratatouille
When craving French vegetable recipes, this classic summer stew should be at the top of your list.
“Ratatouille” comes from the French term “touiller,” which simply means to “toss food.” This French classic recipe is said to have originated in the 1700s in the Provencal region of France.
This simple, rustic dish was common among French peasants and featured vegetables like eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini, summer squash, onions, and tomatoes and would cook for long periods of time.
What is a Traditional Ratatouille Recipe?
A traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice, France, is popular along the Mediterranean coast as an easy summer dish. Originally considered “peasant food” because of the plentiful summer vegetables.
What is Ratatouille Served With?
Ratatouille can be the main course, a side dish, or even a salad. Delicious all on its own or served with a variety of foods that might include these ideas:
- Beef: flank, filet, or steak are delicious juicy options.
- Pork: chops or tenderloin pair well with ratatouille.
- Lamb: especially a well-seasoned leg of lamb.
- Chicken: always a popular option and perfectly suited to ratatouille.
- Grains: Ratatouille is delicious served over rice, quinoa, or risotto.
- Potatoes: I especially love it over roasted or mashed potatoes.
- Pasta: Like your favorite pasta sauce, ratatouille is an incredible accompaniment to any kind of pasta.
This Classic Ratatouille Recipe
Typically served as a side dish, this simple French vegetable recipe can also become a main dish by adding pasta or bread to the meal.
Traditionally, each vegetable is sautéed separately before being layered into a casserole dish and baked in the oven. This version simplifies those steps by uniformly slicing the veggies, tossing them into a bowl, and drizzling them with olive oil and salt and pepper.
When shopping for vegetables or harvesting from your garden, look for veggies that have a similar diameter that, when sliced, will stack together evenly.
Ratatouille Ingredients
Specific measurements are in the recipe card below.
- Olive oil
- Yellow onions
- Garlic
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Eggplant
- Bell peppers: yellow and green
- Dried spices: thyme and dill
- Fresh herbs: oregano and basil
How to Make Ratatouille
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush a baking pan with olive oil and set aside.
Step One:
In a large bowl, add sliced onion, garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and peppers. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and seasoning over the vegetables and drizzle with olive oil.
Step Two:
Layer the vegetables into the pan; cover tightly with foil and bake for an hour, or until the veggies are bubbling and the eggplant is soft.
Step Three:
Remove from the oven; sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve immediately.
How to Serve Ratatouille
This simple recipe can be served as a side dish — or a main dish all on its own.
It’s excellent served with toasted slices of French bread, tossed with pasta, or even over rice. Add ground meat or cooked chicken for additional protein.
More Provencal-Inspired Recipes
- Easy Sheet Pan Ratatouille for a unique twist on classic French vegetable recipes.
- Stuffed Pasta Shells with Ratatouille Sauce
- Classically French Tian Provençal
- Simple Chickpea Curry with Eggplant and Butternut Squash
- Chinese Spicy Chicken Garlic Eggplant with Curried Rice
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Classic Ratatouille
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
A Classic French Provencal Ratatouille is a hallmark of summer. Filled with late summer veggies and fragrant herbs. An easy oven-baked dish, versatile and even freezer friendly.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 yellow onions, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 4-5 medium tomatoes, sliced
- 4 small to medium zucchini, sliced
- 2 medium eggplant, stemmed, sliced
- medium yellow pepper, sliced
- medium green pepper, sliced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush olive oil onto a baking pan, set aside.
- Add the onion, garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and peppers to a bowl. Sprinkle seasoning and salt and freshly ground pepper over the vegetables and drizzle with the olive oil.
- Layer the vegetables into the pan; cover tightly with foil and bake for an hour, or until the veggies are bubbling and the eggplant is soft.
- Remove from the oven; sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve immediately. It is excellent as a side dish tossed with pasta or served on toasted slices of french bread. Add some ground meat for additional protein if you'd like.
Notes
This recipe freezes well in air-tight containers for up to 3 months. (If freezing, leave out the fresh herbs until serving).
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 136Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 13mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 9gSugar: 11gProtein: 5g
