Ratatouille Soup (pareve or meat)
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This soup version of the classic Provencal dish is good hot or cold, pureed or not, as a first course or a meal.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 small eggplant, chopped (about a cup)
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped (you can also substitute green or red)
2 pounds fresh or canned tomatoes, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, sliced fine
1 teaspoon fresh thyme minced (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)
2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
pinch cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garnish: balsamic vinegar and shreds of fresh basil
In a large saucepan, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for about 3 minutes then toss in the eggplant, zucchini, and pepper and saute, stirring from time to time, another 5 minutes. Mix in the tomatoes with their juice and stir. Stir in the basil, thyme, stock, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. If you are going to serve the soup hot and chunky, ladle it into bowls immediately. Spoon a little balsamic vinegar over each serving and sprinkle with fresh basil.
If you’d like to serve it as a puree, ladle the solids into the blender first, then thin with the broth. You can serve it hot immediately--or chill and serve it cold. In all cases, garnish each bowl at serving time with a dribble of balsamic vinegar and fresh basil shreds.
Notes: This soup version of the classic Provencal dish is good hot or cold, pureed or not, as a first course or a meal.
