Classic Ratatouille

Step 1

Base: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat, then add garlic and onion. Cook until onion softens, about 5 minutes, then add crushed tomatoes. Let gently simmer, uncovered, until tomatoes have the texture of a thick paste, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Veggies: While tomatoes simmer, thinly slice unpeeled zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes into ⅛ inch thick slices (easiest with a mandolin slicer). If some slices are wider than others, you can cut them in half so they're roughly the same size

Step 3

Seasonings: Remove tomato mixture from heat and stir in seasonings.

Step 4

Assemble: Spread tomato mixture into the bottom of a large casserole dish or tart pan. Working from the outer edge, layer veggies on top of the sauce in an alternating pattern (ex: eggplant - tomato - zucchini - repeat). You may not use all the veggies, depending on the size of your pan.

Step 5

Bake: Brush veggies with remaining olive oil and bake for 1 hour, or until veggies are tender. If top begins to brown too quickly, cover with aluminum foil.