EGG-FREE, NUT-FREE, VEGETARIAN
When I made ratatouille for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to prepare. It’s a great dish to serve during the summer when vegetables are plentiful and flavorful, and according to my husband, it tastes just like pizza without the dough. I think that means it’s a winner.
Makes 3 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes
1½ cups marinara sauce
½ medium onion, sliced
1 small eggplant, such as Japanese or Italian
1 medium zucchini (see tip)
1 medium yellow squash (see tip)
3 Roma (plum) tomatoes
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce over the bottom of a 6 x 9-inch baking dish (or similar-size dish). Sprinkle the onion over the marinara sauce.
3. Using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife, slice the eggplant, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes crosswise about ¾ inch thick, making the slices as uniform as possible. Arrange the vegetables sideways in rows in an alternating pattern (1 slice eggplant, zucchini, squash, tomato, and repeat) on top of the onion. Fit in as many slices as possible. Pour the remaining ½ cup marinara sauce over the vegetables.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Spoon the mixture evenly over the vegetables.
5. Sprinkle the vegetables with the salt and black pepper and cover the dish with foil. Bake for 30 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for 15 minutes more, until the sauce is bubbling and the vegetables are cooked through. Serve warm.
Noelle’s tip: Because vegetable sizes can vary, especially when purchased from the farmers’ market, I recommend having another zucchini or squash on hand in case you have extra space in your baking dish.
Change it up: Use an oval baking dish or deep pie dish about 10 inches in diameter. Depending on the dish you use, you can get creative with how you stack the vegetables.