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Romanian Ghiveci

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine Romanian

Ingredients
  

Vegetables

  • 2 onions chopped
  • 2 carrots peeled and sliced
  • 3 bell peppers varied colors preferred, chopped
  • 2 zucchinis chopped
  • 1 eggplant chopped
  • 200 g green beans trimmed and cut into pieces
  • 4 medium tomatoes peeled and chopped (or substitute with a 400g can of diced tomatoes)

Herbs and Spices

  • 3-4 cloves of garlic
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley finely chopped (or use fresh dill if you like)
  • Fresh basil for garnish
  • Salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika

Other

  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 liter of water

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the Vegetables: Chop the carrots into smaller pieces for uniform cooking, and if they are large, you might want to pre-boil them. For the garlic, I prefer to split each clove in half instead of crushing them; this way, they release their flavor gradually throughout the cooking. Snap off the ends of the green beans and trim the tail if desired. You can also cut them in half depending on your preference.
  • Sauté the Base: In a large pot, warm some vegetable oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until they turn translucent, around 5 minutes.
  • Add Root Vegetables: Toss in the carrots, bell peppers, and green beans. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of sweet paprika, then sauté everything for about 7 minutes or until the peppers soften. Pour in some water and cover the pot, making sure to check occasionally to prevent the water from fully evaporating. Adjust the water as needed, depending on how quickly the carrots soften.
  • Introduce Zucchini and Eggplant: Add zucchini and eggplant to enrich the dish with more texture. Let them cook for roughly 10 minutes, or until they start to soften.
  • Add Tomatoes: Stir in the tomatoes and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, ensuring the vegetables are perfectly tender yet still maintain their shape.
  • Garnish and Serve: Finish off with a sprinkle of fresh basil or parsley to enhance the freshness of the dish. Adding dill can introduce an extra layer of flavor. Serve the dish warm.