Elegant Ratatouille: The Perfect Choice for a Light Dinner
French Home Cooking at Home: A Ratatouille Recipe that’s Low-Calorie and Diet-Friendly. Introducing a sophisticated appetizer perfect for entertaining guests.
Enjoy a light dinner or a special appetizer with this elegant Ratatouille. This diet-friendly recipe uses fresh tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini for a healthy and low-calorie meal. Its simple yet deeply savory flavor is truly captivating, making it a wonderful addition to any table.
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 portion Tomato sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 Eggplant
- 2 Tomatoes
- 1 Onion
- 1 Zucchini (or any summer squash)
Seasoning & Others
- Generous amount Olive oil
- Pinch of Black pepper
- Pinch of Parmesan cheese powder
- Mozzarella cheese, to taste
- Generous amount Olive oil
- Pinch of Black pepper
- Pinch of Parmesan cheese powder
- Mozzarella cheese, to taste
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly wash the fresh eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes. Remove the ends and slice them into uniform rounds, about 0.5 cm (1/4 inch) thick. Set aside the sliced vegetables.
Step 2
Peel and finely mince the onion. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Sauté the minced onion until it becomes translucent and fragrant. You can add the tomato sauce to the pan and cook it with the onion for a deeper flavor, but if you prefer, you can simply sauté the onion and add the tomato sauce directly later. For this recipe, I’ve opted to just lightly sauté the onion.
Step 3
Prepare an oven-safe dish or baking vessel. Spread the sautéed onion evenly across the bottom of the dish. Then, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce over the onion. This prevents the vegetables from becoming too watery and infuses the base with flavor.
Step 4
Now, arrange the sliced tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini decoratively around the edge of the dish, overlapping them. You can stack them or arrange them in a circular pattern for a visually appealing Ratatouille. Once all the vegetables are in place, lightly drizzle olive oil over the top and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper for added aroma.
Step 5
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20-30 minutes. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven’s specifications. I prefer my vegetables tender but still holding their shape, so I baked mine for about 25 minutes. You can test for doneness by gently piercing the vegetables with a fork; they should be tender.
Step 6
Remove the Ratatouille from the oven. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese powder over the baked vegetables for an extra layer of flavor, followed by a generous amount of mozzarella cheese. For a touch of color, you can add a sprinkle of dried parsley. Remember, too much cheese can make the dish heavier than intended for a light meal, so use just enough to impart a subtle cheesy aroma.
Step 7
The residual heat from the baked vegetables will quickly melt the cheese, creating a mouthwatering finish. Serve immediately while warm to enjoy the delightful combination of fresh vegetable flavors and melted cheese. Your delicious Ratatouille is complete!
