Simply Craving

A traditional French food dish consisting of a variety of vegetables, such as bell peppers, eggplant (aubergines), onions, tomatoes, and zucchini (courgettes), seasoned with garlic and herbs, and simmered in olive oil. This can be served hot, cold, or moderately warm as an appetizer, a main dish, or a snack.

Traditional ratatouille requires browning each vegetable separately to develop individual flavors, then combining them for further cooking to blend the flavors. This method, while not necessarily quicker, is less work. Quantities and proportions can be varied to suit personal preferences and seasonal availability. It can serve 4 persons as a vegetarian entrée, more if used as a side dish. Be sure to use shallow pans so the vegetables roast rather than steam.

Oven Roasted Ratatouille

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant, 1 – 1 1/2 lbs
• 1 red pepper
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 zucchini
• 1 summer squash
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
• 3 large tomatoes, more if small
• salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 375

Cut eggplant, peppers, squashes and onion into 1″ chunks. Cut the garlic cloves in half, lengthwise. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil and the rosemary, mixing well. Salt lightly. Oil a rimmed baking sheet or other large shallow pan (like the bottom of a two-part broiler pan) and spread the vegetables, if possible in a single layer. Put in heated oven.

Cut tomatoes into halves (if small) or quarters (if large) and spread in a second oiled pan. Salt lightly and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Put pan in oven.

Roast vegetables, turning with a spatula once or twice to ensure even cooking (tomatoes won’t need to be turned) about 45 imnutes, or until tender. There should be well browned areas on each but they don’t need to be uniformly browned. Don’t let them become charred (blackened) as this will produce a bitter taste.

Combine contents of both pans, correct seasoning, and serve hot, warm or room temperature.

[via Recipetips.com ]