Microwave ratatouille.

I love ratatouille but somehow can never be bothered to wait around cooking it, frying off all that veg and baking it. So this was an experiment to do a speedy version using my new SISTEMA microwave steamer. I've got large drawer of microwave "ware" but having recently become a bit of a devotee to this brand.

First choose your aubergine, ideally they look like the one on the left, as the right hand one seems to have been brawling on a Friday night.

2 medium aubergines
3 sticks celery
1 carrot
1 shallot
1 fennel
3 bulbs of garlic, you'll prob want less but I'm paranoid about getting a cold at the moment.
(Plus any other dodgy looking veg lurking in the salad drawer.)


Chop up your veg, not too small. Smash the garlic and chop it. Put everything into your steamer (any covered microwave dish will do.) Microwave on high for about 10 ,minutes, until anything you test is soft in texture. Stir in a bit of ready made tomato sauce (I use sainsburys pasta tomato & herb sauce, it tastes fab and is pretty cheap.) Gently stir in the cherry tomatoes, some salt and pepper then put the whole lot under a grill, or ideally an oven/grill combo until browned. Stir again and lavishly apply chopped parsley/basil. I forgot my carrot, but the mix of veg isn't that important, use what ever you like. Classic ratatouille consists of aubergine, tomato and carrot, celery onion and garlic, but feel free to experiment. I meant to put in some new potatoes to appease my husband and bulk it out a a bit. I also forgot those, so we had them on the side, steamed with butter and chives.