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Latest / Healthy / No. 46
Provençal Ratatouille
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Healthy

Provençal Ratatouille

Eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, onion and tomatoes cooked slowly with garlic, olive oil and herbes de Provence until silky and sweet. Serve as a side, over polenta, or with crusty bread and a fried egg.

Prep25 min
Cook50 min
Total1 hr 15 min
Serves6

What you'll need

Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovenFor soups, stews and braises
AmazonWalmart
12-inch cast-iron skilletFor searing and oven finishes
AmazonTargetWalmart
8-inch chef's knifeFor all the chopping
Amazon

Store links go to the same item at each retailer, checked November 9, 2026. Want to compare? See the Top 50 Kitchen gear rankings.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
  • 1 large eggplant, cut in 3/4-inch cubes
  • 2 medium zucchini, cut in 3/4-inch cubes
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 red and 1 yellow bell pepper, cut in 3/4-inch pieces
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, or 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp herbes de Provence (or 1 tsp thyme and 1 tsp oregano)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Steps

  1. Heat 3 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the eggplant with 1/2 tsp salt, 8 minutes. Move to a bowl. Brown the zucchini in 2 tbsp oil with 1/4 tsp salt, 5 minutes, and add to the eggplant.
  2. In a Dutch oven, heat the remaining oil and cook the onion and peppers over medium heat until soft, 10 minutes. Add the garlic for 1 minute.
  3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs, bay leaf, pepper and remaining salt and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Add the eggplant and zucchini, stir gently, cover partly and simmer over low heat 20 to 25 minutes, until everything is very tender.
  5. Remove the bay leaf, stir in the basil and a drizzle of olive oil, and season to taste.
  6. Serve warm or at room temperature.

TipBrowning the eggplant and zucchini separately before combining keeps them from turning to mush and adds a deeper, sweeter flavor.