ratatouille

American  

[rat-uh-too-ee, -twee, ra-ta-too-y^uh] / ˌræt əˈtu i, -ˈtwi, ra taˈtu yə /

noun

1. a vegetable stew of Provence, typically consisting of eggplant, zucchini, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and garlic, served hot or cold.

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ratatouille British  

/ ˌrætəˈtwiː /

noun

1. a vegetable casserole made of tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, etc, fried in oil and stewed slowly

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Etymology

Origin of ratatouille

Borrowed into English from French around 1875–80

Explanation

A vegetable stew from the Provençal region of France is called ratatouille. Traditionally, ratatouille is made with tomato, eggplant, zucchini, and peppers, as well as onion, garlic, and herbs. A classic ratatouille contains summer vegetables that are native to Provence, where the dish originated. It's a hearty, healthy, and simple stew that can be the main entree or a side dish. The carefully arranged layers of thinly sliced vegetables featured in the 2007 animated film Ratatouille aren't strictly traditional, but this is a dish with many acceptable variations. The word itself stems from the French touiller, "to stir up."

Example Sentences

Many dishes now elevated to restaurant darling status — barbacoa, ratatouille, pasta e fagioli — were born from exactly those constraints.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

I cooked her ratatouille, and we shared a cheap bottle of wine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

I don’t know if this is sacrilegious, but we serve gumbo with rice, and so I’ll often serve my ratatouille with rice.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2024

In the kitchens of a trendy Madrid dinner theater called Florida Retiro, chef Joaquin Felipe introduced us to pisto manchego, a colorful combination of sautéed summer vegetables that is Spain’s answer to French ratatouille.

From Washington Times • Aug. 29, 2023

The ratatouille contained an herb that Anton couldn’t identify. homage.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner