A Friendly Vegan

We all, at some point, have heard and seen a ratatouille. A delicious veggie dish – I had seen it in the infamous Disney movie and my mouth was watering! However I came to find it was more complicated than I thought.

I promise I’ve tried to do the perfect layer thing, but I just can’t reach the desired results. So frustrating!

This is how I do it – doesn’t take as long, easier and doesn’t require a oven (even though I’ve tried this recipe with a oven and it works just as well, if not better!). It’s not complicated at all and anyone can do it.

Ingredients:

• 3 small medium tomatoes;
• 5 small garlic cloves;
• 2 medium potatoes;
• 1 large red bell pepper (or any other color, but I prefer red);
• 1 large zucchini;
• 1 medium onion + a small onion ( or just 1 large onion );
• 100 ml tomato pulp;
• 200 ml white wine (optional);
• 200 ml water.

The following depend on people’s liking, but I use around 3 tsp of each. Adjust.

• Cumin;
• Salt;
• Olive Oil (optional, sometimes I use, sometimes I don’t);
• Black Pepper;
• Powdered Garlic;
• Dried (or fresh) Basil;
• Raz el hanout (this spice is magic and makes the dish 10 times better!Optional, I had just a tiny bit since the flavor is quite powerful).

Instructions:

1. Gather your vegetables, peel the potatoes, onions and garlic.
2. Wash all ingredients.
3. Cut ends of red bell pepper, onions and zucchini.
4. Roughly cube them. I like my cubes very small, so I cut everything about the same size! You can cut everything as big or as small as you’d like.
5. Put everything on a pot or pan. I always use my cast iron oven – I love it and it somehow makes food taste better. You can use any other type of pan or pot.
6. To the veggies, add water and tomato pulp, as well as spices.
7. Place on your stove (or oven, it works both ways if you use a cast iron oven) and let it cook away, covered (if on oven, uncovered and before going in, stir everything).
8. Let cook for 1 to 2 hours. When veggies are close to super soft, add wine and let simmer for 10 more minutes. Turn off and serve hot. Super delicious!