• Originating in Nice, Ratatouille is one of the most beloved French dishes. Simple to make but bursting with flavour, this veggie dish is a star of colours and taste.

    Recipe by Leila Saffarian 

    Photograph by Roelene Prinsloo 

    Ratatouille

    Serves: 4
    Cooking Time: 30 mins

    Ingredients

    • 60ml (4 tbsp) olive oil, plus extra for baking
    • 2 onions, sliced
    • 2 aubergines, roughly chopped
    • 4 baby marrows, thickly sliced
    • 1 red and yellow pepper, seeded and quartered
    • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
    • 5 tomatoes, thickly sliced
    • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 4 large garlic cloves, skin on
    • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    1

    Preheat the oven to 180°C.

    2

    Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onions and fry until brown, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan and spoon into a large baking dish.

    3

    Fry the remaining vegetables in separate batches until golden, adding more oil if necessary. Layer the vegetables in the baking dish with the onions and scatter with the sliced garlic.

    4

    Place the tomatoes and garlic cloves in the baking dish as the final layer. Add the thyme and season well. Drizzle with olive oil.

    5

    Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until soft and tender.