Rustic Ratatouille: An Easy French Home-Style Dish
Simple Vegetable Ratatouille, French Home Cooking
Don’t let French home cooking intimidate you! With just a few leftover vegetables, you can whip up a delightful Ratatouille. This recipe makes it easy to enjoy a taste of France right in your own kitchen. Perfect for using up those stray veggies and creating a beautiful, flavorful dish.
Fresh Vegetables- 1 eggplant
- 1 zucchini
- 2 tomatoes
- 1/2 onion
- 5 fresh button mushrooms
- 1/2 bell pepper (any color)
Seasoning & Flavor- Olive oil
- Flower salt (or sea salt)
- Shredded cheese or pizza cheese (to taste)
- Store-bought tomato sauce (to taste)
- Olive oil
- Flower salt (or sea salt)
- Shredded cheese or pizza cheese (to taste)
- Store-bought tomato sauce (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Gather all your ingredients for the Ratatouille. Prepare the vegetables: thinly slice the eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. Finely chop the onion. Clean and thinly slice the button mushrooms and bell pepper. Have your salt, olive oil, shredded cheese, and tomato sauce ready.
Step 2
Finely chop half an onion. Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Sauté the chopped onion until it becomes translucent and slightly sweet. Cooking the onion slowly is key to unlocking its natural sweetness.
Step 3
Once the onion is softened, add the thinly sliced button mushrooms and bell pepper to the pan. Continue to sauté until the vegetables are tender and well combined with the onions.
Step 4
Pour in the store-bought tomato sauce and stir well to combine with the sautéed vegetables. If you have any other leftover vegetables you’d like to add, now is a good time to incorporate them. Let the mixture simmer gently over medium-low heat, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Step 5
For a beautiful presentation, prepare the eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes by slicing them thinly. Aim for uniform thickness and size for each slice. This will help them cook evenly and create a visually appealing layered effect in the final dish.
Step 6
Choose an oven-safe dish, such as a gratin dish or a small baking dish. Spread the cooked vegetable and tomato sauce mixture evenly across the bottom of the dish, filling it about halfway.
Step 7
Now, artfully arrange the thinly sliced eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes on top of the sauce layer. You can overlap them or create a decorative pattern. If your vegetables are different sizes, don’t worry; arrange them as attractively as you can. A circular arrangement often looks lovely.
Step 8
Lightly sprinkle a pinch of salt over the arranged vegetables. Then, generously top everything with shredded cheese or mozzarella cheese. The cheese will melt and create a delicious, golden crust as it bakes.
Step 9
Place the dish in a preheated oven or air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Cooking time may vary slightly depending on your oven or air fryer.
Step 10
Your delicious Ratatouille is ready to enjoy! The vibrant colors and wonderful aromas are a feast for the senses. Serve it hot, perhaps with some crusty baguette bread to soak up any extra sauce. This is an easy way to bring a classic French home-style meal to your table. Any leftover sauce can be served in a small bowl on the side.
