Yeah, this is what ratatouille looks like before it gets cooked! Other than some aromatics, herbs and spices, this is exactly what you need to make a ratatouille, 2 pounds of tomatoes and a pound each of summer squash, eggplant and sweet peppers. There are lots of methods of making ratatouille, but these are the standard ingredients. For my method, I like to do the tomatoes as a sauce on the stovetop and roast the other vegetables in the oven. Roasting the eggplant chunks develops a custardy texture on the inside, while developing firm edges that hold it together. The peppers get roasted so they develop a nice caramelization. The summer squash gets a short amount of time under the broiler, so it develops a flavorful char, but doesn’t become soft and soggy as it’s prone to with longer cooking times. Mix it all together and serve over some grits/polenta. A summer classic!

Note: Elysian Fields Farm is taking a late summer break. This allows them to focus on getting their fall crops planted and growing as well as rotating weeks of vacation for the crew. The next installment of the 2021 CSA will be on September 8.