This Easy Ratatouille with Poached Eggs is a mostly traditional ratatouille with a few secret flavor weapons and time-saving techniques. It is so easy I almost feel a little guilty calling it a recipe! It's a chop and drop kind of deal. Everything stews for a bit, you crack some eggs on top, et voila! Ratatouille is done. Serve with some good crusty bread, lots of fresh herbs, a sprinkle of creamy, sharp cheese just to gild the lily a bit, and of course we can't forget the wine!
Ratatouille is the Ultimate Summertime Dish
Ratatouille is comprised of summertime garden veggies that are all ripening at the same time: tomatoes, eggplant, summer squash, bell peppers. Also, ratatouille is an easy, one pot dish that does not require the oven - always a bonus during these sweltering months. You'll see some recipes that have you thinly slice all the veggies and arrange them in a baking dish - not so in this easy ratatouille recipe. I keep mine the way I imagine it began - humble, rustic, and traditional.
I have to admit, my earliest memories of this dish were not very pleasant ones. I was not a fan of the stewed veggies as a young child, but as I grew older and wiser, I learned to love this dish as I do today. My dad made it regularly during the summer harvest months as we had a large garden and lots of veggies to use up. I have no doubt that's how this dish originally came to be and I love that. I love recipes that are created out of necessity and seasonal abundance.
What do you need to make this easy, traditional (mostly) Ratatouille?
- tomatoes
- summer squash - either green zucchini, yellow squash, or a combination
- eggplant
- bell peppers
- garlic
- onions
- herbs - use what you love. Basil is my first choice here, but thyme, parsley, dill, tarragon: whatever you have and love. A mix is nice.
- and a few of my secret flavor weapons: bay leaves, anchovies, and balsamic vinegar
I hope you'll give this ratatouille recipe a try! I know I'll be making it again soon as I have zucchini and tomatoes ripening in my garden.
More Delicious Summertime Recipes
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Ratatouille with Poached Eggs
A beautiful, simple dish that celebrates the abundant summer harvest.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (about 6 medium) fresh, ripe tomatoes, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, large diced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 medium eggplant, peeled and large diced
- 6 garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 zucchini or summer squash, large diced
- 2 anchovy filets
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- salt and black pepper
- mixture of fresh herbs for serving
- crumbled feta (French feta if you can find it!) or other sharp, tangy cheese for serving
- 6 eggs (or as many as you need for the amount of mouths you are feeding)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan (Mine has a 4 quart capacity) over medium heat. Make sure you choose a pan that has a lid. Add onions and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring often. Next, add anchovy filets and stir until they dissolve.
- Then, add summer squash, bell pepper, eggplant, and pinch of salt and cook for about 5 minutes stirring often.
- Next, add tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Stir well, reduce heat, and allow to simmer for 30 minutes partially covered until everything becomes soft.
- Use your spoon to make small indentations in the mixture, and carefully crack an egg into each one. You can make as many as you need and/or as many as will fit in your pan.
- Once all eggs are cracked, cover pan and cook over low heat for about 5 minutes or until eggs are set.
- Taste for seasoning, adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Sprinkle over cheese and serve with crusty bread and lots of fresh herbs!
Notes
This is a rustic dish. Don't get too finicky about your dicing or measuring. Also, play around with the proportions. If you don't love eggplant, leave it out and add an extra zucchini. This is a very laid back dish.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: dinner, stew, one pot
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: French
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