DIY Ratatouille

I feel like I'm on a roll this week. 3 posts, 3 days in a row.  So today I'm writing about an easy dish that I thought I created once upon a time from veggies in the crisper, but it turns out I was making my own version of ratatouille. For those who don't know what it is, ratatouille is a mix of vegetable, slowly sauteed. I guess that's the best way I can describe it. But it's typically the same veggies without variation. Sometimes we make it as a side dish, but sometimes Dayna (for all 3 readers I have, Dayna is my much better half) asks for it as the main dish. The great thing about it is that it can be easily reheated as leftovers, as long as we don't devour it all at once.

DIY Ratatoutille
-1 medium sized eggplant, peeled and diced
-1 medium yellow onion, diced
-3 cloves garlic, diced
-3 medium zucchinis, peeled and sliced
-2 medium yellow squash, peeled and sliced
-1.5 tablespoons of basil (I know it's a cop out but lacking fresh I used it from a tube)
-1 can diced tomatoes, drained of liquid
-1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
-1.5 tablespoons of tomato paste
-salt
-pepper

Peel eggplant, zucchini and squash. Rough chop that along with onion and garlic. I put in a storage bag as it's easier to keep fresh while I make whatever else I'm cooking.

Take large frying pan and pour in a turn and a half of olive oil. Heat over medium flame. When pan is well heated, add veggie mix.  Saute for about 5 minutes on medium flame, turning constantly. Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes. Continue to cook on medium low flame for approximately 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Now at this point there will be a bit of juice built up. Since I don't like my ratatouille watery, I drain 3/4 of it with a spoon.

Add tomato past and basil, move heat to simmer and mix. Continue to cook for another 10 minutes, checking every few minutes for consistency. You don't want to let the veggies get too soft or else the whole thing goes to mush.

Below is the finished product. I traditionally serve it with chicken or fish. I have learned that shrimp DOES NOT go with ratatouille. Just trust me on this. Enjoy!!!

FYI, tonight I went with an easy lemon pepper salmon. Let me know if you want that recipe. There isn't much to it. Really, like zero.