Italian Vegetable Stew (Ciambotta)
A hearty Italian vegetable stew featuring a medley of eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, zucchini, and potatoes, slowly simmered in olive oil with aromatic onions, celery, carrots, and garlic.
Ingredients
- •⅓ cup olive oil
- •2 medium onions
- •2 ribs celery
- •3 whole carrots
- •4 cloves garlic
- •1¼ pounds eggplant
- •½ cup water
- •28 ounces whole tomatoes
- •2 whole red bell peppers
- •¾ pound green beans
- •1¼ pounds zucchini
- •¾ pound boiling potatoes
- •
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Heat oil in a 7-to 8-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 10 minutes. Add eggplant and water and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is slightly softened, about 10 minutes.
20 min
- 2.
Stir in tomatoes with juice and bell peppers, then reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.
15 min
- 3.
Meanwhile, cook green beans in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan of well-salted boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Add zucchini to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to bowl with green beans. Add potatoes to boiling water and cook until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and add to beans and zucchini.
20 min
- 4.
Add boiled vegetables to stew and simmer, stirring, until all vegetables are very soft, about 15 minutes. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
15 min
