Anke
Table of Contents
Our best ratatouille recipe is so easy to make, it only takes 3 simple steps.
There are many versions of this classic French dish, using different herbs and varying cooking times, either baked in the oven or slowly simmering away on the stove.
The result will always be a moreish, healthy, one-pot meal that can be enjoyed as a side dish with roast meat, or on its own with crunchy bread on the side (maybe our rustic sourdough focaccia?) and a glass of your favorite wine.
Either way, my simple and easy ratatouille recipe is the perfect Summer and Autumn dish. It is a great way of using up all the surplus tomatoes, bell peppers, and courgettes/zucchini growing in your garden.
Do you have too many zucchini in your garden? Why not try our Zucchini Fritters recipe or our moist Chocolate Zucchini Cake?
If you don’t have a garden, I recommend visiting your local farmers market to get the freshest vegetables possible.
Ingredients For Our Ratatouille Recipe
- Produce: My ratatouille recipe uses classic Mediterranean vegetables like eggplant, zucchini/courgette, capsicum, and of course, lots of sun-ripe tomatoes.
Ratatouille is a typical Summer dish because that is the time when these vegetables grow in abundance and have the most flavor. It is in essence a simple vegetable stew. Therefore we want to use the best and freshest ingredients possible. That’s why I recommend visiting your local farmers market to get the best produce for your ratatouille. - Fresh And Dried Herbs: I am using a mix of dried and fresh herbs. Dried herbs are available all year round and you will have them most likely available in your pantry. Adding sprigs of fresh thyme is a must in my opinion. Some recipes call for basil as well but I prefer fresh parsley. Please let me know in the comments below, which herbs you are using for your ratatouille.
- Olive oil: What would a Mediterranean dish be without a good quality extra virgin olive oil? So, don’t be shy and use plenty of it. If you can’t a good one at your local supermarket, Amazon has some great options.
Popular recipe ideas for you: Baked Brie Cheese, Indian-Inspired Cabbage Fritters, Homemade Stuffed Cheese Bread
3 Simple Steps To Make A Delicious Ratatouille
Step 1: Cutting the vegetables is probably the most time-consuming task when preparing the ratatouille. I like to cut them quite chunky so they don’t fall apart when cooked for a while.
Step 2: Fry the vegetables in lots of olive oil and season them well with herbs and a bit of vinegar. By the way, I like to fry the vegetables in batches so they can cook more evenly. You can watch our video here.
Step 3: Let the ratatouille simmer on low to medium heat until it reaches a thick consistency. I prefer to cook it at least for an hour. Patience is the key here! Garnish with fresh parsley and serve it with crusty bread or as a side dish with roasted lamb or chicken. Enjoy!
Tips For Making The Best Ratatouille Recipe
Here are my tips in a nutshell to achieve a moreish ratatouille:
- Use lots of fresh herbs if available.
- Source the freshest produce you can get.
- Use plenty of extra virgin olive oil.
- If you can, prepare the ratatouille in advance. It always tastes better the next day.
- Double the recipe and freeze half of it so you can enjoy the taste of Summer even in the colder months.
- Use a large heavy saucepan with a lid. You can also use a Dutch oven. It makes cooking the ratatouille so much easier.
- Let the ratatouille cook for as long as possible. Don’t rush the process.
Recipe For The Best Ratatouille Recipe
Our ratatouille recipe is the ideal light dinner for warm summer nights. Picture yourself on the porch, sipping a glass of your favorite wine and enjoying a bowl of delicious ratatouille with a side of crusty bread. It’s an experience that effortlessly evokes the essence of France.
By the way, our easy apple crisp dessert would be ideal to finish this lovely dinner.
But enough said. Let’s put on your aprons and start cooking.
(A quick note: The recipe card contains affiliate links for the equipment. Also, I would love for you to leave a rating and a comment. Thank you.)
The Best Ratatouille Recipe [in 3 Simple Steps]
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 large ripe tomatoes
- 2 capsicum yellow, red, green: your choice
- 1 eggplant
- 1 zucchini
- 1 red onion
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes optional
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- a few sprigs of fresh thyme
- a handful of chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- around 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Chop the vegetables into chunky pieces, Please try to cut the different vegetables in even sizes, so they cook evenly.2 capsicum, 1 eggplant, 1 zucchini
- Cut the tomatoes and onion into quarters. Chop the garlic finely.5 large ripe tomatoes, 1 red onion, 4 cloves garlic
- Heat a good amount of olive oil in the saucepan. Add the eggplant, zucchini, and capsicum/bell pepper to the pan and season with salt and pepper.freshly ground pepper to taste, 1 tsp salt
- Give it a good stir and fry until golden and slightly soft.
- Take the veggies out of the saucepan and set aside for later.
- We add more olive oil to the same saucepan and add the onions along with the garlic. Season with salt and fry on medium heat until soft and golden.
- Once the onions are soft, we can add the tomatoes and dried herbs. Combine well.1 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp chili flakes, 1 tsp dried thyme
- We add the vinegar now and fry for a couple of minutes.2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- Time to add the other vegetables together with the fresh thyme. Stir and put the lid on.a few sprigs of fresh thyme
- Bring the stew to a simmer and let it cook for 30 minutes on low to medium heat.
- Take off the lid and stir. Now it's a good time to check the seasoning and adjust if needed.
- Put the lid back on but leave it open for a bit. Simmer the ratatouille for another 30 minutes.
- Finally, add the parsley. Serve the ratatouille immediately or let it cool down for a bit.a handful of chopped fresh parsley
- Enjoy! Bon Appetit!
