Eggplant & Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil

Eggplant & Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil

This is my favorite summer dish. I’ve made it countless times this summer and shared my love for it on instagram here and here. I made this dish for my long time veg-head husband (then boyfriend) when we began dating. It was the first vegan dish I made that tasted like nothing was missing. Before I met my husband, meat was a part of every one of my meals (except maybe breakfast). I remember those first few dishes I cooked for him tasted so bland. I blamed it on the missing main ingredient: meat. But after experimenting with more spices, herbs and discovering a new found love for tofu, my tastebuds were transported to a whole new veggie world full of delicious flavors.

This one-pot-dish comes together pretty quickly and easily but has layers of slow-cooked, sophisticated flavors: sweet, fresh tomatoes and basil to start followed by smokey, savory tofu and eggplant all smothered and covered in a garlicky, red wine sauce. Yum!

Eggplant, Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil
  • Step 1

    Eggplant & Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil

    Start by sautéing the tofu and onions in the spices until onions turn translucent and tofu turns light brown.

  • Step 2

    Eggplant & Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil

    Now add the eggplant and sauté a little more.

  • Step 3

    Eggplant & Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil

    Add a can of diced tomatoes with chilies. Cover the pan and let simmer on low before adding the fresh tomatoes and basil.

Eggplant & Tofu Ratatouille with Thai Basil

 

Print Recipe


Ingredients for the Ratatouille 

1 eggplant

1 block of extra firm tofu

1 yellow onion

1 can of diced tomatoes with chilies

3 cups cherry tomatoes

3 handfuls thai basil

4 garlic cloves

3 dashes soy sauce

1 dash liquid smoke (optional)

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 tablespoon cumin powder

1/4 cup red wine

salt and pepper generously

some pepper flakes if you like extra spice

 

Directions 

Start by sautéing the tofu in a large pan on high heat with some of your favorite high heat oil (I used rice bran oil). Add all the cumin, curry, liquid smoke and soy sauce and sauté some more. Add the chopped onions and turn down the heat. Sauté until onions are translucent and tofu turns light brown and fragrant. Add the chopped eggplant and sauté a little more. Add a can of diced tomatoes and cover pan with a large lid, keep heat on low. Cook for about 10 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes, wine, garlic and thai basil and cook with the cover off for another 5 minutes. Salt and pepper generously to taste.

 

Notes

Smaller eggplant have fewer seeds and more of a firm tofu texture so I prefer those for this dish (about 3 small eggplant).

If you don’t have thai basil you can use regular basil.

Feel free to add squash and zucchini to this dish, if you wish.

 

Photography by Paige Alisa

 

 

  • Emily von Euw

    Wow – super impressed with your site! Keep it up.

    • http://earthyfeast.com/ Grace @ Earthy Feast

      Thank you so much Emily, your comment made my day! :)

  • Becki Beckmann

    made this for lunch, halved and missing the curry powder. used plenty of ground mustard and cardamom seeds instead :] mmm so good!

    • http://earthyfeast.com/ Grace @ Earthy Feast

      Hi Becki! Your comment makes me so happy! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on my dish with me, it sounds delicious!

  • Valmae Ypinazar

    Hi,

    Have just made this with some changes – no tofu, so added a tin of chickpeas and not enough cumin so threw in some cayenne pepper. Tasted wonderful. I’ve added your recipe to my blog and have credited you – also added your blog in my side bar. Looking forward to trying more recipes.

    Cheers

    Valmae

    http://www.valmaeypinazar.com/food.html

  • Sara

    We made this last night and LOVED it! This will be a summer regular.