Make authentic Ratatouille at home! This timeless French recipe is healthy, comforting, and full of vibrant flavor.
If Ratatouille sounds familiar, you might be thinking of the beloved Pixar movie—but the real-life version is even more delightful! This French comfort food combines tender vegetables with the perfect blend of herbs for a dish that’s as nourishing as it is delicious. This recipe pairs beautifully with a crusty baguette slathered in our Quick Tomato Sauce or alongside our comforting our Easy Homemade Meatballs for a hearty, satisfying meal. As a side or the main dish, Ratatouille has a way of turning any meal into an occasion.
The first time I tasted Ratatouille, I was hooked. I loved how something so simple could be so flavorful and satisfying. When I set out to create my own version, I wanted to keep it true to the spirit of French country cooking while making it approachable for any home cook.
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Ingredients
- OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford
- GARLIC: fresh garlic cloves, chopped
- TOMATOES: we used Roma tomatoes for this recipe. You can also use a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
- CRUSHED RED PEPPER: red pepper flakes
- GREEN PEPPER: fresh green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- THYME: sprigs of fresh thyme
- EGGPLANT: fresh, small eggplant sliced in ¼" slices
- YELLOW SQUASH: small yellow squash (yellow zucchini), sliced in ¼" slices
- ZUCCHINI: small zucchini squash, sliced in ¼" slices
- SALT: sea salt or kosher salt
- PEPPER: ground black pepper
*see recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Top tip
For best results, try to pick vegetables that are equal in size and shape. This will make for the most appealing presentation.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Place a medium sauce pan on stove. Place olive oil, crushed tomatoes, diced pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic and thyme and allow to cook for 15 minutes on medium heat.
- While sauce is cooking, slice your squash and eggplant into ¼" slices.
- Remove sauce from stove. Remove the thyme and discard. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Using an oven safe low casserole dish or cast iron skillet, place enough sauce in bottom to coat. This will prevent vegetables from burning.
- Layer vegetables in alternating fashion and shingle them so that they are standing up like books on a book shelf.
- Continue adding vegetables in a circular pattern until the dish is full.
- Layer more sauce over the vegetables in a circular way so that they are standing vegetables are not covered completely.
- Cover with foil and place in oven for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove foil and cook an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes and then serve.
Variations
- Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze for more depth of flavor.
- Sprinkle fresh mozzarella or shaved parmesan over the top.
- Serve with torn pieces of a crunchy French baguette for dipping.
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Wine Pairing
We've partnered with our friends at Emmolo Wines to create this that pairs perfectly with their exceptional Merlot. This well-balanced, earthy wine sourced from the family vineyards in Napa Valley has expansive, dark berry flavors, a fresh earthiness and smooth, leathery tannins.
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat in a 375°F oven, uncovered, until it's warmed through (about 7-10 minutes).
- Do not freeze: we don't recommend freezing this dish, as the vegetables get mushy.
FAQ
Ratatouille is a traditional French vegetable dish made with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, and herbs. It’s hearty, flavorful, and beloved for its simple ingredients and comforting taste.
Ratatouille can be served as a main dish or a side. Enjoy it with crusty bread, over pasta or rice, or alongside proteins like chicken or fish. It's versatile and pairs well with many dishes.
Ratatouille takes about 45 minutes to an hour to prepare and cook. This includes time to chop the vegetables, make sauce, and let the flavors meld together on the stove or in the oven.
Yes! Ratatouille is an excellent make-ahead dish. The flavors deepen and improve when it’s reheated the next day. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
Yes, Ratatouille is naturally vegetarian and vegan. It’s made entirely from vegetables, olive oil, and herbs, with no animal-based ingredients.
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Ratatouille recipe
Make authentic Ratatouille at home! This timeless French recipe is healthy, comforting, and full of vibrant flavor.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
- ¼ c olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes
- 1 tsp crush red pepper
- 1 green pepper seeded and diced
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 small eggplant sliced in ¼ inch slices
- 2 small yellow squash sliced in ¼ inch slices
- 2 small zucchini squash sliced in ¼ inch slices
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Place a medium sauce pan on stove and place olive oil, crushed tomatoes, diced pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic and thyme and allow to cook for 15 minutes on medium heat (or use our Quick Tomato Sauce recipe).
- While sauce is cooking, slice your squash and eggplant into ¼ inch slices.
- Remove sauce from stove. Remove the thyme and discard. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Using an oven safe low casserole dish or cast iron skillet, place enough sauce in bottom to coat. This will prevent vegetables from burning.
- Layer vegetables in alternating fashion and shingle them so that they are standing up like books on a book shelf.
- Continue adding vegetables in a circular pattern until the dish is full.
- Layer more sauce over the vegetables in a circular way so that they are standing vegetables are not covered completely.
- Cover with foil and place in oven for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, remove foil and cook an additional 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Then serve.
Notes
- For best results, try to pick vegetables that are equal in size and shape. This will make for the most appealing presentation.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙
- Calories: 117
- Sugar: 4.9 g
- Sodium: 477.2 mg
- Fat: 9.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.7 g
- Protein: 2.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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