Ratatouille

Ratatouille is an eminently versatile dish—you can serve it warm or cold, as the center of a meal, or as an hors d’oeuvre or accompaniment. You may want to prepare this a day or two ahead, since it is even better reheated. Some cooks feel strongly that the vegetables in a ratatouille should be puréed; I prefer it when the vegetables retain their shape because the flavor seems better.