Baked Ziti

In traditional ratatouille, vegetables simmer together until they're falling-apart tender. Here, the vegetables are quickly cooked in batches, so they retain their flavor and texture. Serve it warm over any kind of pasta. We ate it with whole wheat spaghetti and a chunk of aged cheddar cheese! Yum Yum!

 

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 pound eggplant, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice

5 large garlic cloves, minced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

These were the last few vegetables of the season from my organic garden!

1 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice

2 pounds tomatoes, cored and finely chopped

1 cup loosely packed shredded basil leaves

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup crumbled aged goat cheese, or aged cheddar cheese.

In a large enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the eggplant and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add one-third of the garlic, season with salt and black pepper and cook for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the eggplant to a plate.

Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the casserole along with the zucchini and yellow squash and cook over moderate heat until lightly browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Add another one-third of the garlic, season with salt and black pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the vegetables to the eggplant.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the casserole, along with the onion and bell pepper. Cook over moderate heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the remaining garlic, season with salt and black pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, two-thirds of the basil and the reserved vegetables and cook over moderate heat until the tomatoes have broken down and the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the remaining basil along with the lemon zest and juice. Transfer to bowls and sprinkle with the goat cheese or cheddar cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Make AheadThe ratatouille can be refrigerated overnight.

My kids loved this! Its a great way to get 5 servings of vegetables!