Ratatouille is a French Provencal Vegetable dish that is usually made in the summer with onions, eggplant, peppers, zucchini, and herbs. It’s a great way to use that abundance of veggies you may have in your garden, or that you bought at the farmer’s market. It takes a little while for it to cook, but you will be so rewarded! It’s a dish that is good the day it is made but only improves with time, giving all the flavors have a chance to mellow. It is so versatile because of the many ways you can serve it. It’s the perfect side dish served warm alongside grilled meats and fish. Or, you can serve it cold as a salad or add it to a sandwich. You can top a crostini with it and you have a quick appetizer. I love it so much that I double the recipe! I put some in my freezer for later in the season and have a container of it in my fridge all summer long. 

One of my favorite summer memories is planting vegetables for a summer garden with my children. This dish captures that memory of a summer garden, that unbelievable flavor of just-picked veggies. If you don’t have a garden, find a local farmers markets for the freshest produce. A layer of sautéd onions, peppers, and garlic that’s then topped with thinly sliced eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and tomatoes. The flavors are perfectly married together, a balance of sweetness & summer goodness. It’s as beautiful to look at as to eat.