Classic ratatouille

This moreish Mediterranean-style vegetable stew is perfect for a super-healthy midweek supper.

Yield:
Serves 4 persons
Category:
Vegetarian
Cuisine:
French

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 red onions
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 aubergines (eggplant)
  • 3 courgettes (zucchini)
  • 3 red or yellow peppers
  • 6 ripe tomatoes
  • ½ a bunch of fresh basil (15g)
  • olive oil
  • a few sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 1 x 400 g tin of quality plum tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • ½ a lemon

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Prep your ingredients before you start – peel and cut the onions into wedges, then peel and finely slice the garlic. Trim and chop the aubergines and courgettes, de-seed the peppers and chop into 2.5cm chunks. Roughly chop the tomatoes. Pick the basil leaves and set aside, then finely slice the stalks.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large casserole pan or saucepan over a medium heat, add the chopped aubergines, courgettes, and peppers (you may need to do this in batches) and fry for around 5 minutes, or until golden and softened, but not cooked through. Spoon the cooked veg into a large bowl.
  3. To the pan, add the onion, garlic, basil stalks and thyme leaves with another drizzle of oil, if needed. Fry for 10 to 15 minutes, or until softened and golden. Return the cooked veg to the pan and stir in the fresh and tinned tomatoes, the balsamic and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
  4. Mix well, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon. C

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