Ratatouille recipe

This classic ratatouille recipe has been triple tested in our kitchens. Warming and comforting, a veggie packed ratatouille is easy to make with any leftover veggies you've got in the fridge.

This ratatouille recipe will take around 50 mins to prepare and cook and serves 8 people. A portion of this delicious vegetable mix works out at only 120 calories per serving. So it's a low calorie meals (opens in new tab) option which is great if you're following a diet like the 5:2.

This dish is ideal for vegetarians (opens in new tab) too, as it is filling enough to enjoy as a main meal. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days, but make sure to reheat thoroughly before serving. This recipe can be stored in the freezer too - use within 1 month and defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.

If you want to go really indulgent with the ratatouille recipe, pop it in an oven dish mixed with a good portion of pasta, top with cheese and pop under the grill for a ratatouille pasta bake. Or if you want to go more dinner party with it, serve with a mix potatoes and veg. We love it with these crispy garlic and rosemary potato slices (opens in new tab).

Ingredients

• 4tbsp olive oil
• 2 red onions, cut into wedges
• 4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
• 2 aubergines, roughly chopped
• 3 mixed peppers, roughly chopped
• 3 courgettes, roughly chopped (you could use 1 small marrow instead if you like)
• 2x400g tins chopped tomatoes
• 3tbsp tomato purée
• 1tsp sugar
• 1tsp Italian mixed dried herbs
• 2tbsp balsamic vinegar

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onions, garlic, aubergines and peppers, and fry for 10 mins until soft.
2. Add the courgettes and fry for 5 mins. Add rest of ingredients, season, bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 mins, until tender.

Ratatouille is a classic French stew which uses ‘end of summer’ vegetables like tomatoes, aubergine, courgette and peppers. Ratatouille is a traditional French (opens in new tab) dish that originated in the coastal city of Nice. The recipe will most commonly include plenty of tomato and garlic - as well as lots of veg! The veggies are stewed in a rich tomato sauce to make a Ratatouille. It’s a simple dish that can be served for lunch, dinner or as a side dish.

Ratatouille is often served with crusty bread - as the sauce is so rich, you’ll want some bread for dipping. It’s great as a vegetarian main served with couscous, rice or other grains. You could even add ratatouille as a pizza topper - if you wanted to give your classic pizza a twist! Ratatouille can also make a perfect side dish (opens in new tab). Try serving it with meaty meals like chicken fillets (opens in new tab) or white fish. Or why not toss in some pasta (opens in new tab) for a bowl of comforting carbs.