Vegetarian Ratatouille Gratin

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 lb uncooked ziti pasta (or 1 lb penne pasta)
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (optional or to taste)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese or 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 6 medium fresh garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (or adjust to heat level)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 small eggplant (sliced into about 1-inch cubes)
• 1 small zucchini (halved lenghwise then sliced thinly)
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced (or a mixture of red and green bell peppers)
• 4 large plum tomatoes, coarsley chopped
• 3 -4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2-1 teaspoon seasoning salt (or to taste) or 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

Recipe

• 1 grease a 4-quart casserole dish.
• 2 for the ratatouille; heat 3 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• 3 add in onion, chopped garlic, chili flakes and dried basil and oregano; cook stirring until the onion is softened (about 5 minutes).
• 4 reduce heat to medium then stir in eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper and chopped tomatoes; cook stirring for about 10-12 minutes.
• 5 mix in 3-4 tablespoons parmesan cheese then season with salt and black pepper to taste; set aside.
• 6 cook the pasta until just al dente (do not overcook as the pasta will cook more in the oven) drain then place in a large bowl.
• 7 toss the cooked pasta with ricotta cheese, eggs, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper if desired.
• 8 to assemble; spoon half of the ziti mixture into prepare casserole dish, then top with all the ratatouille mixture.
• 9 spread the remaining half of the ziti mixture on top of the pasta.
• 10 top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese.
• 11 cover with foil and bake in a preheated 350 degrees f oven for 20 minutes.
• 12 uncover and bake another 10 minutes more.