Serves: 8. Preparation time: 90 minutes.
For the Stew:
For the Seasoning:
• Preheat the oven to 375°F. [Peeling before slicing is optional.] Using a sharp knife or a mandoline, slice the Eggplants, Roma Tomatoes, Squashes and Zucchini into rounds that are 1/16 inch thick. Set aside.
• For the Sauce, heat the Olive Oil in a 12 inch diameter oven-safe pan over medium heat. Sauté the Diced Onion, Minced Garlic and both Diced Peppers until soft (about 10 minutes). Season with Kosher Salt and Pepper, then add the can of Crushed Tomatoes. Stir until the ingredients are fully incorporated. Remove from the heat and add the Fresh Basil. Stir once more.
• Arrange the previously sliced Vegetables on top of the Sauce, starting at the outer edge of the pan, alternating types (Eggplant, Tomato, Squash, Zucchini, then repeat). Salt and Pepper to taste.
• Make the Seasoning: In a small bowl, mix together the Basil, Garlic, Parsley, Thyme, Salt, Pepper and Olive Oil. Now spoon the Seasoning over the top of the Vegetables. Cover the pan with foil and bake at 375° for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes until the Vegetables are soft.
• Serve as a main dish or as a side.
"Ratatouille" - The name was made famous in 2007 by Walt Disney Pictures when a rat, named "Remy", who had a keen sense of taste and smell, dreamt of becoming a chef. The dish, Ratatouille, is a French Provençal Vegetable Stew that originated in the late 18th century, in Nice, France. Oddly, the term did not occur in print until 1930. An unusual word with 3 consecutive vowels and silent LL, it's pronounced - RAT-a-TOO-ee. Ratatouille is even better on the second day.