Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (2024)

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  • May 16, 2020
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Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (1)

Ratatouille – we probably all know the famous movie, but have you tried making it at home? Try my Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille recipe, made with thinly-sliced tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant layered into a casserole dish. The vegetables are topped with an aromatic tomato sauce, then baked until the vegetables are tender. It’s super easy to make and one of the most aromatic and delicious dishes ever! I’ve partnered with Pompeian to share my smoky and creamy version of this classic French dish!

Watch My Ratatouille Video Tutorial!

Watch my video recipe for step-by-step instructions! Want new recipe notifications? Make sure to subscribe to my website and my YouTube channel! to receive notifications whenever a new video goes live!

What Makes This Ratatouille Recipe So Special?

Not every Ratatouille is made the same! This version with smoked paprika and cream takes the iconic French dish to a whole new level of goodness! I add smoked paprika and cream to the tomato and red bell pepper sauce. While it simmers away in the oven, it fills your whole kitchen with the most amazing aroma and once it’s done cooking, it tastes phenomenal. My husband and I can finish off a whole casserole in one night!

Delicious Vegetable Side Dish

This smoky and creamy ratatouille recipe makes the perfect vegetable side dish! Enjoy it with roasted meats such as roasted lamb or beef. It’s also great with chicken or even Thanksgiving turkey! Of course, you can always enjoy it all on it’s own, too! This vegetarian recipe is great as a side dish, too!

Try it along with meaty recipes, such as my ‘Grilled Chimichurri Chicken’ or ‘Lemon Herb Salmon’.

Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (2)

How to Make Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille

There are a few keys steps to follow to make sure your dish is the best!

  1. Prepare the smoky and creamy sauce and pour some of the sauce into the bottom of your casserole dish.
  2. Make sure to use the freshest ingredients. I love to use locally grown heirloom tomatoes, sweet yellow zucchini and green squash; and Chinese eggplant, which is more mild in flavor.
  3. Slice all vegetables the same thickness! This is super important so everything bakes evenly. Use an extra-sharp knife or madeline slicer to get the best results.
  4. Arrange the vegetables by layering them first, then placing them tightly packed into a casserole dish.
  5. Pour the remaining sauce over the vegetables and bake the ratatouille.
  6. Be patient! Let the dish bake away while you build up an appetite. Then, let it cool for at least 15 minutes before digging in to enjoy.
  7. I love to enjoy my smoky ratatouille with warm French baguette – it’s perfect for mopping up all that amazing sauce!
Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (3)

Using Pompeian in My Kitchen

This recipe was sponsored by Pompeian, America’s largest national brand of olive oil. For this recipe, I used their Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil for sautéing, their Organic Balsamic Vinegar for my sauce, and their Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil for the topping. For tips on how to trend in the kitchen, including recipes, visit Instagram.com/Pompeian. To share your latest on-trend creations using Pompeian, tag your photos with #TrendingintheKitchen.

More Recipes!

Enjoyed this classic recipe? Make sure to check out some of my other hearty and warming recipes you’re sure to enjoy!

  • Cheesy Baked Rigatoni– the ultimate comfort food dish! This baked pasta casserole is made with hearty Bolognese sauce and three types of cheese!
  • Creamy, Cheesy Sweet Potato Gratin – the best sweet potato side dish! Made with thinly sliced potatoes baked in a cheesy béchamel sauce!
  • Classic Italian Lasagna – the best ever cheese and meat lasagna made with slow-cooked Bolognese sauce!
  • The BEST Beef Stew – seriously amazing slow-braised beef stew with veggies!
  • Risotto Stuffed Butternut – oven-roasted butternut stuffed with creamy mushroom risotto!

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Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (4)

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Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (5)

Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video)

Classic French Ratatouille recipe with a smoky and creamy tomato sauce!

Ingredients

  • 4 large tomatoes

  • 2 medium eggplants

  • 2 yellow zucchinis

  • 2 green squash

For Sauce:

  • 2 tbsp Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 large sweet onion, diced

  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced

  • 4 minced garlic cloves

  • 2 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1 tbsp herbes de provence

  • Ground black pepper

  • 1 ½ tsp salt

  • 1 tbsp freshy thyme, about 4 sprigs

  • 1 ½ cups crushed tomatoes

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 2 tbsp Pompeian Organic Balsamic Vinegar

  • 8 to 10 basil leaves, chopped

  • ½ cup heavy cream

For Topping:

  • 2 to 3 tbsp Pompeian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme

  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

For the Creamy Sauce:

  • Prepare the sauce first. Preheat a large frying pan over medium heat and add a few tablespoons of Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Once the olive oil is heated, add the diced pepper and onion. Saute the mixture for 4 to 5 minutes, until the onion is translucent and tender; do not brown. After 2 to 3 minutes, add the minced garlic.

  • Season the mixture with herbs and spices: smoked paprika, ground black pepper, herbes de provence, thyme and salt. Add the crushed tomatoes, sugar and balsamic vinegar next. Cook the sauce over medium-low heat, simmering for about 5 minutes. Add the chopped basil last, along with the heavy cream. Stir the cream in, then remove from heat.

Making Ratatouille:

  • Preheat the oven to 375F. Next, prepare the vegetables. Use a very sharp knife or a madeline slicer to cut all vegetables the same thickness, about 1/8th of an inch. Once all the vegetables are sliced, layer them alternating all 4 vegetables. Create small stacks for easy assembly.

  • To assemble the dish, first spread three-quarters of the sauce into the bottom of a large oval or round casserole dish. Arrange the vegetables in the casserole in a ring around the edge, packing them tightly. Start from the outside of the casserole and work your way in. Spoon the remaining sauce in between the vegetables and around the edges.

  • For the topping, simply combine a few tablespoons of Pompeian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil with fresh thyme. Use a pastry brush to brush the oil and thyme over the vegetables. Cover the casserole dish with foil and place into preheated oven. Bake at 375F for 1 hour; 50 minutes covered, then remove the foil, add parmesan cheese and bake for another 10 minutes uncovered. If desired, broil on ‘low’ heat for 5 minutes.

  • Allow the dish to cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Serve with a warm French baguette.

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 828mg | Potassium: 1243mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 2581IU | Vitamin C: 76mg | Calcium: 217mg | Iron: 4mg

Course:

  • Dinner
  • Lunch
  • Side Dishes

Cuisine:

  • French
  • Italian/French

Holiday:

  • Easter
  • Thanksgiving

Speciality:

4 comments

    • Veronika Kuznetsova

    Great recipe for large family or crowd. Everyone loved the dish.

        • tatyanaseverydayfood

        I’m so glad everyone enjoyed the dish! 🙂 It’s one of our favorites!

        • Yelena

        This was soo delicious! healthy and light dish.
        My hubby and I ate almost the whole dish in a day cause my kids didn’t want to eat the “soft” veggies lol but we didn’t mind at all! thank you 🙂

            • tatyanaseverydayfood

            I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂 One of our favorites, too!

          Smoky & Creamy Ratatouille Recipe (video) (2024)

          FAQs

          What's the secret of a good ratatouille? ›

          Ratatouille requires ripe vegetables, a liberal hand with the olive oil, and patience: only long, slow cooking will give you the creamy soft vegetables, and intense, almost jammy sauce that sings of the sun. Anything else is just plain vegetable stew.

          What is the correct order of steps for making ratatouille? ›

          Directions
          1. Step 1: Start with garlic and onions. TMB Studio. ...
          2. Step 2: Saute the vegetables. TMB Studio. ...
          3. Step 3: Add the stock and seasonings. TMB Studio. ...
          4. Step 4: Peel the tomatoes. TMB Studio. ...
          5. Step 6: Combine everything and serve. TMB Studio.
          Apr 12, 2024

          What was the final dish in ratatouille? ›

          Fun fact: the signature dish Rémy serves at the end of Ratatouille isn't technically a ratatouille; it's a tian, which is an artful arrangement of sliced summer vegetables baked over a tomato and pepper sauce.

          Why is ratatouille so healthy? ›

          Ratatouille is packed with dietary fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C and K, folate and much more. With so many vegetables included, you're bound to meet the recommended daily amount of veggies your body needs.

          How to enhance ratatouille? ›

          Season to taste with additional salt (I usually add ¼ teaspoon more) and black pepper. Serve in bowls, perhaps with a little drizzle of olive oil, additional chopped basil, or black pepper on top (all optional). Like all stews, this ratatouille's flavor improves as it cools. It's even better reheated the next day.

          Why is my ratatouille watery? ›

          It won't work in a wok or sauce pan – the heat is not spread out enough and the ratatouille will become too liquidy. So basically you kind of need to stick around in the kitchen and stir it often. If you see that there is too much liquid, turn the heat up.

          What are the most common ingredients used in ratatouille? ›

          Ratatouille is a French Provencal dish that consists of stewed vegetables. Though recipes and ingredients vary, there are some ingredients that are almost always used: eggplant, tomatoes, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers.

          Is ratatouille worth making? ›

          Ratatouille Is a Worthwhile Labor of Love. Cooked in olive oil with garlic, herbs, and wine, this late summer vegetable stew is rich, tender, and transcendent when made well.

          Is ratatouille good for you? ›

          This traditional heart-healthy French stewed vegetable dish is perfect as a side or a hearty main meal. Originating in the Provence region in France, Ratatouille combines summer's bounty of eggplant, zucchini, squash, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions, with a blend of spices.

          What is the real name for ratatouille recipe? ›

          Confit byaldi is a variation on the traditional French dish ratatouille by the French chef Michel Guérard.

          What is the real name for ratatouille? ›

          Its official French name is Ratatouille Niçoise. The traditional recipe calls for tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers and onions. According to the Provencal tradition, herbs de Provence were the only official blend of spices that could be used as they were traditionally grown in the region.

          What is a substitute for zucchini in Ratatouille? ›

          Use yellow summer squash instead of zucchini and substitute 2 or 3 fresh garden tomatoes for the canned tomatoes for another variation.

          Is Ratatouille French or Italian? ›

          Ratatouille (/ˌrætəˈtuːi/ RAT-ə-TOO-ee, French: [ʁatatuj]; Occitan: ratatolha [ʀataˈtuʎɔ]) is a French Provençal dish of stewed vegetables that originated in Nice and is sometimes referred to as ratatouille niçoise ( French: [niswaz]).

          How to make the perfect ratatouille in Disney Dreamlight Valley? ›

          To make ratatouille in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll need to bring the following ingredients to any of the stoves/hobs in the game: eggplant (AKA aubergine), zucchini (AKA courgette), onion, tomato, and the spice of your choice. Simply chuck those food items into any active hob and your job will be done.

          What is the moral of ratatouille? ›

          It conveys a message that there are a lot of difficulties in our life, we just need to be like Remy, focus on our goals, and find out a way to achieve them. We all are unique in our own ways. We need to figure out our strengths and polish them from time to time.

          Where does ratatouille say the best food is made? ›

          NARRATOR: Although each of the world's countries would like to dispute this fact, we French know the truth; the best food in the World is made in France.

          What is the main lesson of ratatouille? ›

          Anyone can cook. This one is seriously emphasized in this movie by not only Chef Gusteau, but by the theme of the movie. And it's so true, if you want to cook, you can. If the rat in this movie can put that much precision into Ratatouille, you can throw together a new recipe.

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