French-Style Ratatouille with Herbes de Provence
A colorful, rustic vegetable stew simmered slowly with fragrant Herbes de Provence, perfect as a side or main vegetarian dish. This french-inspired vegetarian (vegetarian) ready in about 60 minutes pairs large, diced into 1-inch cubes eggplant, large, diced red bell pepper, large, diced yellow bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 150 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 large, diced into 1-inch cubes eggplant
- 2 medium, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds zucchini
- 1 large, diced red bell pepper
- 1 large, diced yellow bell pepper
- 1 medium, chopped onion
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 4 large, diced tomatoes
- 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp Herbes de Provence
- 1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add 1 chopped medium onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 1 large diced eggplant and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until starting to soften.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 medium sliced zucchini, 1 large diced red bell pepper, and 1 large diced yellow bell pepper. Cook for another 7 minutes until vegetables begin to brown.
- Step 4: Add 4 large diced tomatoes, 2 tsp Herbes de Provence, 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir well and reduce heat to low.
- Step 5: Cover and simmer gently for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender and flavors meld.
- Step 6: Remove lid and cook uncovered for an additional 5 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly. Drizzle with remaining 2 tbsp olive oil before serving warm.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does French-Style Ratatouille with Herbes de Provence take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (15 min prep + 45 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover French-Style Ratatouille with Herbes de Provence?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep large, diced red bell pepper from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in French-Style Ratatouille with Herbes de Provence?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale French-Style Ratatouille with Herbes de Provence for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is French-Style Ratatouille with Herbes de Provence vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
