Community Corner

Liven Up Dinner With Spring Ratatouille

Spring vegetables can add a burst of color to dinner.

Spring vegetables can wake up your sleepy dinnertime routine and a burst of color from a ratatouille dish is just what's in order. 

Watch Chef Cheryl Dent make a spring ratatouille in the KD101 test kitchen, and learn how to work with eggplant and make a perfectly creamy sauce.

Ratatouille with Spring Vegetables

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Servings: 6
Cook time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • 4-6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large or 2 small eggplant cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 2 sweet onions, chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 10 basil leaves chopped (8 for dish, 2 for garnish)
  • 3 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves only
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 yellow squash, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 2 zucchini squash, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 2 colored peppers – green, yellow or orange
  • 3 heirloom tomatoes, chopped
  • ½ cup crumbled feta cheese sea salt to taste

Preparation

  • In a large skillet, put 2 tablespoons olive oil and turn on to medium heat. Add eggplant and stir frequently. Season with sea salt. Cook eggplant until in browns and the inside has turned to a nice creamy texture. 
  • Add more olive oil as necessary as eggplant tends to absorb the oil in the pan. Once the eggplant is done, remove and set aside. 
  • Put the skillet back on the heat and add 2 more tablespoons of oil. Add in onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent. Add in basil, thyme, pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Cook for 1 minute. Add squash and peppers. Cook for 2 -3 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes 11.
  • Stir in eggplant and cook another 15 minutes until mixture is soft and flavors marry. 
  • Remove from heat and toss with feta cheese. Garnish with reserved chopped basil before serving. Serve hot or cold.

More from Kitchen Daily: 
The Ultimate Grilled Cheese
How to Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes
15-Minute Dinner: Angel Hair Pasta with Shrimp

This article is part of Mix It Up, an editorial series created in collaboration with AOL's Kitchen Daily and Huffington Post. It is dedicated to making the lives of mothers easier through articles, videos and slideshows focused on simple and creative solutions to everyday challenges. From healthy recipes to exciting ideas for a more balanced lifestyle, this section aims to become a resource for moms everywhere. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here