Baked Ratatouille

Photo: flickr user Benjamin Chun

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

5 garlic cloves chopped

1 lrg eggplant unpeeled, diced

2 green bell peppers diced

2 lrg tomatoes chopped

1 onion cut 1" pieces

1 lrg zucchini cut 1/2" pieces

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

(or 1 tbspn dried basil)

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

4 ounces diced feta cheese (optional)

Preparation

Heat oil in a heavy, large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Add eggplant, green bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, zucchini and basil. Saute for 5 minutes. Cover and simmer until all vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes.

Uncover pot and simmer until juice thickens, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Mix in vinegar; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread in 9-inch pie dish. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired. Bake until heated through, about 20 minutes.

This recipe yields about 3 cups.

Yield: 3 cups