The Philosophy of Food! My Perfect Recipe - Just for You - Ratatouille

  

For me the perfect recipe is simple, colourful and delicious.  Here is all I need for a perfect evening at home.  Really, it is a very easy recipe.  All you need to add is some lovely, chunky, fresh bread.

Ingredients

·         4 tbsp olive oil

·         2 medium onions, quartered

·         2 cloves of garlic, crushed

·         1 red pepper, sliced

·         1 yellow pepper, sliced

·         2 large aubergines, halved horizontally then sliced into 3cm pieces

·         3 medium courgettes, sliced into 3cm pieces

·         400 g canned chopped tomatoes

·         small bunch of basil, leaves torn

·         2-3 sprigs of thyme

·         Red wine or vinegar and sugar – added for a more intense taste but optional

Method 

1.     Heat oil in a large casserole dish and sweat the onions and garlic for 10 minutes on a low heat with the lid on. 

2.     Add the peppers, aubergines and courgettes and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, stir and cook for a further 20 minutes with the lid on.

3.     Pour in the chopped tomatoes and the wine or vinegar and sugar, if required, stir and check the seasoning.

4.     Cook for a further 5 minutes without the lid.

5.     Stir in the basil. 

6.       Serve with chunky slices of fresh bread.

For an even more intense Mediterranean flavour, add 1 tbsp capers, a handful of pitted black olives and a few chopped anchovies.  You can even turn left over ratatouille into a savoury pie by just adding  a crumble top of flour, butter, thyme leaves and grated cheese 

It is better served warm than hot.

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