Hearty Sauteed Ratatouille with Ground Beef and Crusty Bread

Ingredients

- 1 medium eggplant, diced
- 2 red bell peppers, chopped
- 3 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 summer squash, diced
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Herbes de Provence
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 loaf crusty bread, sliced

Instructions

1. Prepare Vegetables: In a large bowl, toss eggplant, red bell peppers, Roma tomatoes, zucchini, and summer squash with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the salt to draw out moisture from the vegetables. Pat the vegetables dry with a clean towel.

2. Saute Aromatics: In a large pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once heated, add the minced garlic and diced onion. Saute for 3-4 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.

3. Cook Ground Beef: Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef to the pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until fully browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beef and set aside, reserving the drippings in the pan.

4. Saute Vegetables: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan. When hot, add the salted vegetable mix. Saute for approximately 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and lightly caramelized.

5. Combine Ingredients: Reduce heat to medium and stir in the tomato paste, Herbes de Provence, ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Return the browned ground beef to the pan and mix well.

6. Simmer: Cover the pan, reduce heat to low, and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking and flavor integration.

7. Finish with Basil: Stir in half of the chopped fresh basil leaves. Adjust seasonings to taste.

8. Serve with Bread: Serve hot with slices of crusty bread on the side, garnished with the remaining basil.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- Preparation Time: PT15M
15 minutes
- Cooking Time: PT35M
35 minutes

Total Time

PT50M
50 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Ratatouille, Sauteed Vegetables, Ground Beef Dinner, Eggplant, Fresh Basil, Herbes de Provence, Hearty Meals, Classic Dinner, Easy Dinner Recipe, Comfort Food

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 1,600

#Ratatouille #GroundBeefRecipe #DinnerInspiration #ComfortFood #SauteedDelight