🍅 Ratatouille (Oven-Baked, Layered Style)
A beautiful, flavorful French classic made with thinly sliced vegetables baked in a rich tomato sauce.
🛒 Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
For the vegetables:
- 1 zucchini (thinly sliced)
- 1 yellow squash (thinly sliced)
- 1 eggplant (thinly sliced)
- 2 tomatoes (thinly sliced)
For topping:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried herbs (thyme/rosemary)
- Salt & pepper
- ¼ cup crumbled feta or grated Parmesan (optional)
- Fresh herbs (like parsley or rosemary)
🔪 Instructions
1. Make the sauce
- Heat olive oil in a pan
- Sauté onion until soft
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, herbs, salt, and pepper
- Simmer for 8–10 minutes until slightly thick
2. Prepare baking dish
- Spread the sauce evenly in the bottom of a baking dish
3. Arrange vegetables
- Layer sliced zucchini, squash, eggplant, and tomatoes in a circular pattern (as shown)
- Alternate colors for a красив presentation
4. Season
- Drizzle olive oil over the top
- Sprinkle herbs, salt, and pepper
5. Bake
- Cover with foil or parchment paper
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 40 minutes
- Remove cover and bake another 15–20 minutes until tender and slightly golden
6. Finish
- Sprinkle feta or Parmesan (optional)
- Garnish with fresh herbs
✨ Tips
- Slice vegetables evenly (very important for even cooking)
- Use a mandoline for thin, uniform slices
- Let it rest 10 minutes before serving
🍽️ Serve With
- Crusty bread
- Rice or quinoa
- Grilled chicken or fish