Easy Ratatouille Recipe  (2024)

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Easy Ratatouille Recipe – simple and elegant dish, mad with layered vegetables over tomato sauce, baked until tender. Topped with olive oil, herbs and cheese. Low carb and vegan option available.

Easy Ratatouille Recipe (1)

Serve as a main dish or a side dish. It goes well with all kinds of meat and seafood.

This dish could be prepared as a vegan or vegetarian. The addition of cheese on top is totally optional.

It also doesn’t have too many carbs, like 8 net carbs per serving. Ratatouille screams summer, just use your store bought or garden veggies to make this amazing, light and tasty dish. You can make a big batch and refrigerate for later.

Serve with your summer grilled meats like these Grilled Pork Chops or with a big slice of Crusty No Knead Dutch Oven Bread.

What is Ratatouille?

Ratatouille is a classic French stew from Provence, made with tomatoes, onions, squash, zucchini, eggplant and tomato sauce. Browned to perfection vegetables with tomato sauce, olive oil and herbs, this dish has a mild sweet and delicious taste. The name has nothing to do with the popular Disney movie ratatouille.

Layered or chopped?

You may have seen or tried the cubed vegetable version or the layered, round sliced vegetable version of this French Provencal dish.

In fact the dish I’m sharing with you today is called Tian and is pretty similar to Ratatouille, which is made with cubed vegetables.

The Tian dish is a layered dish that features thin vegetable slices atop a tomato sauce base.

Ratatouille, on the other hand, uses similar (or the same) ingredients but is made like a stew.

So today’s layered Ratatouille is technically called Tian.

Easy Ratatouille Recipe (2)

How to make this Easy Ratatouille Recipe

Ingredients:

The vegetables:

You can use a mandolin slicer for the vegetable rounds, but I personally prefer cutting them with my sharp knives.

  • Tomatoes
  • Zucchini
  • Eggplant
  • Squash (I did not have any today and did not use it)
  • Onion

The sauce:

  • Olive oil
  • Crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Peppers (optional, I did not use any)
  • Seasoning for the sauce – I used a combination of dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme and black pepper)
  • Salt
  • Sugar – to reduce the sourness from the tomatoes
  • Balsamic vinegar – adds some flavor

Easy Ratatouille Recipe (3)

Toppings:

You can skip the toppings, but I wouldn’t do so.

Make sure you drizzle some olive oil on top of the vegetables to keep them moist.

You can top the baked dish with chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme and basil. Adding some grated Parmesan will make it taste delicious.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Cook onion and garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add tomatoes, salt, sugar and seasonings and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until thickened.

Cut vegetables into 1/8 inch thickness.

Pour sauce into a 2-3 quart baking dish (either round or square).

Arrange sliced vegetables alternating tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and onion standing up on their sides. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

Uncover and bake for additional 15-20 minutes, until tender.

Add salt and pepper on top. Drizzle with olive oil. Add grated Parmesan cheese and parsley (optional).

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

More tender vegetables or harder vegetables?

If you prefer your vegetables tender, I’d cover the dish and bake covered with aluminum foil for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and cook for another 20 minutes.

If you’d like the vegetables to be “crunchy”, you can bake uncovered for the whole time.

! Cooking time may vary greatly, depending on the thickness of the vegetable slices, oven temperature and type of baking dish used.

Leftovers – how to store?

Store Ratatouille leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you happen to have a lot of leftovers, you can freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove top or in the microwave.

More Vegetarian Recipes:

  • Easy Bulgarian Baked Beans
  • Scalloped potatoes
  • Balsamic Brussel Sprouts With Tomatoes
Easy Ratatouille Recipe (4)

5 from 1 vote

Easy Ratatouille Recipe

Simple and elegant dish, mad with layered vegetables over tomato sauce, baked until tender. Topped with olive oil, herbs and cheese. Low carb and vegan option available.Serve as a main dish or a side. Goes well with meat and seafood.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 50 minutes mins

Servings: 8

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Ingredients

  • 3 roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 large zucchini, sliced
  • 1 small eggplant, sliced
  • 1 onion, cut into thin rings
  • 14 oz can crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • 1 onion, chopped (for the sauce)
  • 2 garlic cloves, pressed
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp basil
  • 1/4 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil, divided

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.

  • Cook onion and garlic in 2 tbsp olive oil for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.

  • Add tomatoes, salt, sugar and seasonings and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until thickened.

  • Cut vegetables into 1/8 inch thickness.

  • Pour sauce into a 2-3 quart baking dish (either round or square).

  • Arrange sliced vegetables alternating tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and onion standing up on their sides. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

  • Uncover and bake for additional 15-20 minutes, until tender.

  • Add salt and pepper on top. Drizzle with olive oil. Add grated Parmesan cheese and parsley (optional).

  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 99kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 217mg, Potassium: 442mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 369IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @cookinglsl or tag #cookinglsl!

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Easy Ratatouille Recipe (9)

Hi! I'm Mira.

I share simple, mostly low-carb and Keto recipes, that don't take a lot of time to make and use mostly seasonal, easy to find ingredients. I'm a supporter of healthy eating, but you'll also find some indulgent treats too.

More about me

Easy Ratatouille Recipe  (2024)

FAQs

What's the secret of a good ratatouille? ›

Ratatouille requires ripe vegetables, a liberal hand with the olive oil, and patience: only long, slow cooking will give you the creamy soft vegetables, and intense, almost jammy sauce that sings of the sun. Anything else is just plain vegetable stew.

What is the correct order of steps for making ratatouille? ›

Directions
  1. Step 1: Start with garlic and onions. TMB Studio. ...
  2. Step 2: Saute the vegetables. TMB Studio. ...
  3. Step 3: Add the stock and seasonings. TMB Studio. ...
  4. Step 4: Peel the tomatoes. TMB Studio. ...
  5. Step 6: Combine everything and serve. TMB Studio.
Apr 12, 2024

What is ratatouille usually made of? ›

Ratatouille is traditionally made with tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, and eggplant when they are at the peak of their season at the same time. Garlic, thyme, and basil are often added to the mix as well.

What can I substitute for eggplant in ratatouille? ›

To substitute for eggplant, I used carrots. As they cook, and the longer they cook, the more carrots become sweet. For onions, this is a sweet yellow onion. Then we come to one of the secrets of a successful ratatouille, in my opinion: adding a small amount of honey at the end, before serving.

How to cut tomatoes for ratatouille? ›

Cut away any membrane, then chop into bite-size chunks. Score a small cross on the base of each of 4 large ripe tomatoes, then put them into a heatproof bowl.

What goes best with ratatouille? ›

Ratatouille can be served as a first course with bread; it can also be served as a side dish, as you would any vegetable side. However, I most enjoy serving ratatouille as a main-ish dish; that is, as an anchor to a summer's dinner. I love serving it with flatbread or artisanal crackers and a good array of cheeses.

What are the most common ingredients used in ratatouille? ›

Ratatouille is a classic French dish from the region of Provence that consists of eggplant, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs that are quickly seared and then gently stewed. The result is a creamy delicious mixture of fresh vegetables that serves as a wonderful main or side dish.

Is ratatouille worth making? ›

Ratatouille Is a Worthwhile Labor of Love. Cooked in olive oil with garlic, herbs, and wine, this late summer vegetable stew is rich, tender, and transcendent when made well.

How was ratatouille originally made? ›

History of Ratatouille

This beloved summer stew first emerged as a solution for hunger, as it was invented by poor farmers back in 1700s Provençe. With so many bellies to fill, nothing could go to waste. Accordingly, the French peasants would cook their leftover vegetables for hours to create a hearty, coarse stew.

What is the original food ratatouille? ›

The modern recipe for Ratatouille originated in the Nice and Provencal regions of France. Its official French name is Ratatouille Niçoise. The traditional recipe calls for tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers and onions.

What does ratatouille mean in French? ›

The word ratatouille derives from the Occitan ratatolha and is related to the French ratouiller and tatouiller, expressive forms of the verb touiller, meaning "to stir up". From the late 18th century, in French, it merely indicated a coarse stew.

Does ratatouille contain onion? ›

Ratatouille Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make it: Onion and garlic – They create the stew's flavorful base. Eggplant – Any kind! Zucchini – I've been obsessed with Italian striped zucchini (pictured above) this summer, but other varieties of summer squash are also fair game.

Should I salt eggplant before ratatouille? ›

Not necessarily; it depends on what you're looking for in the finished dish. Though salting works when you want the eggplant to be creamy and tender — such as with parmigiana — in those cases where you want the eggplant to retain its shape and have a slightly firmer texture — such as ratatouille — you can skip it.

Why is my ratatouille watery? ›

It won't work in a wok or sauce pan – the heat is not spread out enough and the ratatouille will become too liquidy. So basically you kind of need to stick around in the kitchen and stir it often. If you see that there is too much liquid, turn the heat up.

Does ratatouille have potatoes in it? ›

Ratatouille, made with delicious vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and eggplant, is a flavorful vegetable stew originating in France. In this Italian Ratatouille Recipe, known as Ciambotta, you'll find the same bright and chunky summer vegetables plus some added potatoes and fresh herb pesto.

How to make the perfect ratatouille in Disney Dreamlight Valley? ›

To make ratatouille in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll need to bring the following ingredients to any of the stoves/hobs in the game: eggplant (AKA aubergine), zucchini (AKA courgette), onion, tomato, and the spice of your choice. Simply chuck those food items into any active hob and your job will be done.

What is the moral of ratatouille? ›

It conveys a message that there are a lot of difficulties in our life, we just need to be like Remy, focus on our goals, and find out a way to achieve them. We all are unique in our own ways. We need to figure out our strengths and polish them from time to time.

Where does ratatouille say the best food is made? ›

NARRATOR: Although each of the world's countries would like to dispute this fact, we French know the truth; the best food in the World is made in France.

What is the main lesson of ratatouille? ›

Anyone can cook. This one is seriously emphasized in this movie by not only Chef Gusteau, but by the theme of the movie. And it's so true, if you want to cook, you can. If the rat in this movie can put that much precision into Ratatouille, you can throw together a new recipe.

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