More Veggie Filled Dishes From The Modern Proper
Best Ratatouille Recipe
Nothing beats this easy ratatouille recipe when you’re looking to impress a mostly vegetarian crowd. We say mostly because even the biggest meat eaters will love this ratatouille dish. Tender, melt-in-your-mouth, golden brown veggies in a tomatoey, garlicky, herby sauce from scratch elevates any menu. The flavor will continue to improve and develop day after day if there are any leftovers (which we doubt!). If you are wondering what to serve with ratatouille, we recommend our Lemon Rice, White Rice, Creamy Polenta, Cauliflower Gnocchi, or Perfect Couscous.
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What is Ratatouille
While many of us know ratatouille as a movie about a small, adorable rat who can cook, most of us don’t actually know what ratatouille is usually made of! In most cases, this vegetable-filled, stew-like dish that originated in Nice, France, is made best in season due to the fact that it’s made with a variety of fresh, slow-roasted summer vegetables such as zucchini, squash, and tomatoes and paired with herbs like basil and thyme. You’ll definitely need some Parker House Rolls or Sourdough Bread to soak up all of the ratatouille's saucy goodness!
Ratatouille Ingredients
While many traditional ratatouille recipes call for the use of a mandolin for thin, layered slices and hours in the oven, in our stove top ratatouille we cube everything and cook it in a heavy-bottomed pan to keep it super simple. For this ratatouille recipe, you’ll need:
Eggplant
Zucchini
Yellow summer squash
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Garlic powder and garlic cloves
Extra-virgin olive oil
Yellow onion, chopped
Fresh thyme
Roma tomatoes
Bell peppers
Fresh basil
Crusty bread
How to Make Easy Ratatouille
Follow our step-by-step instructions for a rich, flavorful, and easy ratatouille recipe:
Chop everything! There are a handful of vegetables to cut up for this colorful garden vegetable stew – but – don’t fret, pop on your favorite album and enjoy! Pro tip: try to cut everything uniformly so it cooks evenly and looks beautiful!
Cook in batches! The vegetable mix should turn a golden brown color and slightly caramelize on the bottom, deepening the flavor! The easiest way to achieve this is by making sure there is only a single layer so the vegetables don’t steam but rather roast. After the large diced vegetables are finished, you’ll remove the mixture and cook the onion, garlic, tomato, and herb mixture!
Let the flavors marry! Add the vegetable mixture into the tomato mixture and allow the stew to cook until you’re satisfied with the texture. We recommend cooking the vegetables for at least 30 minutes until they are nice and tender. However, you can continue to cook the ratatouille for up to 1 hour until they have gotten even softer and almost stew-like.
Simple Tools You’ll Need For Homemade Ratatouille
Main Dish Idea to Pair With Ratatouille
Ratatouille makes a delicious main dish paired with a simple starch like rice, polenta or potatoes, but sometimes we like to pair it with a meaty main dish. Here's a few of our favorites.
A Comforting Yet Healthy Side: Ratatouille
Did you impress your guests with this vegetable ratatouille? For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper. Happy cooking!