Ratatouille

Difficulty: easy Prep Time: Five Minutes Total Time: Under an hour
1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
4 small zucchini, sliced
1 onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb fresh tomatoes, chopped, or 1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Sprinkle eggplant lightly with salt and let drain in a colander for 30 minutes. Pat dry, then in a non-stick skillet heat 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Add eggplant. Stir and cook until soft and browned, about 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer eggplant to bowl. Add remaining oil to pan and heat until hot. Add red peppers, zucchini, onion and garlic. Cook vegetables, stirring until tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Mix in tomatoes, basil and eggplant. Stirring occasionally, cook on low heat 15 to 20 minutes or until all vegetables are very tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Ratatouille, a specialty of the Provence region of France, is a popular and versatile dish that uses large amounts of produce. The tomatoes and eggplant create a juicy, stew-like sauce that accentuates the flavours of basil and garlic. Serve it hot as a side dish or over grain for an entree. This version also tastes great when served cold.