Provençal Ratatouille with Herbed Croutons
A vibrant French vegetable stew of eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes, slow-simmered to perfection with fresh herbs. This french-inspired vegetarian ready in about 60 minutes pairs medium eggplant, medium zucchini, medium, diced yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, 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 medium eggplant
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 400g, diced tomatoes
- 30ml olive oil
- 1 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh basil
- 1 slice, 1-inch cubes baguette
- 1 clove, minced garlic
Instructions
- Step 1: Dice eggplant (1 medium) and zucchini (2 medium) into 1/2-inch cubes, then salt and let sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Step 2: Heat olive oil (30ml) in a deep skillet over medium heat, add onion (1 medium, diced) and garlic (1 clove, minced), cooking for 5 minutes until soft.
- Step 3: Add diced tomatoes (400g), thyme (1 tsp), and basil (2 tbsp), then simmer for 10 minutes until tomatoes break down.
- Step 4: Pat dry eggplant and zucchini cubes, add to skillet, and simmer covered for 20 minutes until vegetables are tender but hold shape.
- Step 5: While ratatouille simmers, toast baguette cubes (1 slice, 1-inch) in a dry skillet until golden, then toss with 1 tsp olive oil and a pinch of salt.
- Step 6: Serve ratatouille warm with herbed croutons on top.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Provençal Ratatouille with Herbed Croutons take to make?
Total time is about 60 minutes (25 min prep + 35 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 Provençal Ratatouille with Herbed Croutons?
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 medium eggplant from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Provençal Ratatouille with Herbed Croutons?
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 Provençal Ratatouille with Herbed Croutons for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). 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.
What goes well with Provençal Ratatouille with Herbed Croutons?
French vegetarian like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used frozen vegetables instead of fresh and honestly couldn't tell the difference.
- ★★★★★
So much better than takeout. We'll never order french delivery again.
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
