Since I have been living abroad in various countries for almost five years, I am pretty used to people giving me a weird look when I talk about certain French dishes.

However, since the movie came out, people have had an increased enthusiasm for ratatouille, an amazing French recipe.

Ratatouille is good in all circumstances: it’s a great way to get a mix of veggies in a meal, and super easy to make. Since moving to the rainforest in Costa Rica, I have regularly made ratatouille to go with rice and beans in order to get a balanced vegan meal. But above all, after making ratatouille from the US to Brazil, I’ve gotten to the conclusion that we all agree on one point: ratatouille is delicious!

1. Ingredients. 

Zucchini, aubergine, tomatoes and onions are what we traditionally put in ratatouille. However, I encourage you to throw in there whatever veggies you have (I love adding peppers). You will also need salt, peppers and Herbes de Provence (a blend of dried herbs typical of the Provence region in the South East of France). If you can’t get the herbs (it’s kind of hard to find out of France), pas de panique! Herbes de Provence is basically a blend of savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano—even if you can only find these three last ones, it will taste just as good!

2. Cook zucchinis and aubergines.

Cut your aubergine and zucchini and cook them in a pan with olive oil. As you can see, my dad likes to cook them separately, but that’s up to you. I like to add a bit of water so the veggies become soft.

3. Cut onions and tomatoes.

Wait for a bit and do the same with tomatoes and onions (they cook faster than the rest). Cut them in little pieces—cook onions on the side (I love to cook them in some honey to add a sweet touch), and just add tomatoes to the mix.

4. Add herbs, salt and pepper!

Mix all the veggies together; add salt, pepper and a good dose of Herbes de Provence.
Serve with or without mice!

Author: Soizic June Hagege

Editor: Renée Picard

Image: Courtesy of Author