If you are looking for a veggie packed meal, with lots of uses, then give this Easy Ratatouille recipe a try. A classic French dish that is bursting with flavour, it's a simple one pot vegetarian dinner that is great for feeding a crowd, or freezing leftovers.
This is healthy comfort food at its finest. Chunky vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, with plenty of herbs. Serve it with chunks of crusty French bread or on top of pasta or rice. This is a nutrient dense meal, with plenty of flavour. Keep it vegan, or add cheese on top.
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Why should you try it?
- One pot recipe
- Veggie packed
- Less than 250 calories per portion
- Vegan
- Lots of different ways to serve it
What you will need
- Bell peppers - We used red and yellow, for a nice pop of bright colour and because they are sweet. However, green and orange will work too.
- Aubergine (eggplant) - Look for aubergines with smooth, shiny skin that are uniform in colour and heavy for their size.
- Onion - We used red onion in this recipe, however brown onion or even shallots will work.
- Courgette (zucchini) - Look for a vibrant and rich colour courgette. Don't choose one that is too big, as they tend to be watery and flavourless.
- Carrot - We find this is a cheap way to bulk the dish out. They do still have a bit of crunch to them, as they don't cook as quickly as the other vegetables.
- Fresh tomatoes - Although tinned tomatoes make up most of the tomatoes in this dish, we like to add some fresh for some extra flavour.
- Tinned tomatoes - Try to use the best quality tomatoes you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference. Cheap tinned tomatoes tend to be really water.
- Lemon - This adds lots of freshness to the dish.
- Basil and oregano - An easy way to add lots of flavour. You could use dried oregano too.
- Garlic - Fresh is always best, however you can use a teaspoon of lazy chopped garlic from a jar if you prefer.
Step by step
One: Put the oil in a pan and add all the vegetables and gently cook for 5 minutes.
Two: Add the rest of the ingredients and put a lid on the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.
What is ratatouille?
Ratatouille is a traditional dish from Provence, France. It’s a delicious stew of vegetables like courgette, aubergine, tomatoes, and peppers. There are lots of ways to adapt it, but those are the vegetables that you would traditionally find in it.
The sauce is made of canned tomatoes, a little lemon juice and plenty of garlic and herbs. You want to make sure that you use a really good quality can of tomatoes, as you will honestly taste the difference. Cheaper cans can be really watery. You could use fresh tomatoes and grate them or finely chop them.
Traditionally, all of the vegetables would be cooked individually in olive oil (so that they are all cooked properly) and then combined together and simmered in the sauce. However, we love that this ratatouille recipe can all be done in one pot. You could also roast all the vegetables and then finish them in the sauce.
What vegetables to add
There really is no rule when it comes to making ratatouille, apart from that it should have a tomato base, so that means that whatever vegetables you have, put them in and it will taste great. It is also all cooked in one pot, so throw everything in, season it, put a lid on it and simmer it until it is ready.
What to serve it with
We had ours with just some crusty French bread, but it also goes really well with some pasta and topped with feta. But there is leftovers and that will be going on a baked potato tomorrow. It would be good on rice too. Just put it on everything - it has so many uses!
FAQs
Cool to room temperature, and then divide among shallow, airtight containers. You can keep it this way in the fridge for up to a week or it will be good in the freezer for up to three months.
To reheat the ratatouille, make sure that it has fully defrosted and then heat through in a pan. If the vegetables have gone a little mushy from being frozen, you could always blend everything up and use it as a pasta sauce with a splash of balsamic and a generous amount of shaved Parmesan.
Extra tips
- Add some protein by serving a runny poached egg on top.
- You can use any vegetables you have, but chunky ones work best.
- This is delicious served with crusty French bread. However leftovers are also good on pasta, rice or a baked potato.
- If you want to have a caramelised flavour to the vegetables, then roast them all together, and then finish them off in the sauce on the hob (stove top).
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DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓
Recipe
Ratatouille
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 yellow pepper diced
- 0.5 red pepper diced
- 1 small aubergine (eggplant) diced
- 1 red onion cut in the eights
- 1 courgette (zucchini) diced
- 2 tomatoes quartered
- 1 carrot peeled and diced
- 400 g plum tomatoes canned
- 0.5 Lemon (juice only)
- 4 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Put the oil in a pan and add all the vegetables and gently cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients and put a lid on the pot and simmer for 15 minutes.
Notes
- Add some protein by serving a runny poached egg on top.
- You can use any vegetables you have, but chunky ones work best.
- This is delicious served with crusty French bread. However leftovers are also good on pasta, rice or a baked potato.
- If you want to have a caramelised flavour to the vegetables, then roast them all together, and then finish them off in the sauce on the hob (stove top).
Ashley
It's been sooo long since I've made ratatouille! I'm on an eggplant kick at the moment - I need to make some!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog
One pot meals are the best, less dishes to wash! My sister in law just started weight watchers so i'll have to send this to her (in fact I just need to send her to your blog for amazing recipes :) )
Fresh Delights
Yummm! I have got to try this!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
This one pot ratatouille is a wonder! I'm in love with a big bowl of vegetables so I can't wait to give this recipe a taste. Thanks for sharing!
Nadia
So easy and packed full of veggies! I saw canned ratatouille yesterday when I was out food shopping :O SERIOUSLY?!
Daniella
This looks so delicious. I adore ratatouille but I'm the only one in my home who likes it so I don't make it often, I love to serve it with grilled halloumi and polenta chips.
Camilla
Fabulous Dannii:-) We love ratatouille in our house and in particular my daughter who I think would live off it if she could! The best thing about it I find is eating it the following day as all the flavours really intensify then:-)
marcie
Ratatouille is one of my favorite dishes -- I love all the veggies! This looks just delicious Dannii and I'm dying for some!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
Can't wait until summer is here, when all the veggies are at their best. Love your ratatouille recipe and pinned it so I can make it this weekend. I totally agree too that you can literally eat this over and with everything (or by itself!). Yummy ;)
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks
French or Italian sound good to me! This looks like a perfect use of a box full of veggies! You can't go wrong with a one pot wonder either!
Mir
I really love ratatouille, and not just because the movie was adorable. It's the best way to use veggies! Yours looks so flavorful and perfect!
Megan - The Emotional Baker
I've never made ratatouille, but I love cooking with lots of veggies! Hope to try this soon :)
Sally Akins
I love ratatouille but some people cut it too finely and it all turns into mush. Yours looks fab, really delicious!
Alison
This is one of my favourite things, it is so addictive. It also freezes brilliantly so I made a big batch. It's so easy to make as well
Kelly
That is such a gorgeous bowl of veggie goodness! I love ratatouille and wish I had this for dinner tonight! It looks delicious!
Renna
You are so right. Ratatouille can be used on and in so many other recipes.
Sarah
Ohhh yum! This sounds yummy! I love your recipes. I'm going to pin this on pinterest :) xx
Natasha Mairs
I haven't ate ratatouille in ages!! Looks so good, might have to make some next week x
Helen @ Scrummy Lane
Thanks for reminding me of this, Dannii! I used to make it all the time when I was a student, but haven't for years.
Love your idea of sprinkling feta on top. That would be just perfect!
Emma @ From Aldi To Harrods
This looks delicious! We are also on a mission to eat more vegetables, which is tough when my husband doesn't like them. I think this meal is perfect for getting more veg into our diet!