Linguine with Ratatouille Sauce

• VEGETARIAN

Ingredients

1. 3 tablespoons olive oil
2. 1 onion, cut into thin slices
3. 1 green or red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
4. 1 small eggplant (about 1/2 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice
5. 1 zucchini (about 1/2 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice
6. 3 cloves garlic, chopped
7. 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
8. 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
9. 1 2/3 cups canned crushed tomatoes in thick puree (one 15-ounce can)
10. 2 teaspoons wine vinegar
11. 3/4 pound linguine
12. 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons thin-sliced basil leaves

1. In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the eggplant, zucchini, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Reduce the heat to moderately low and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the tomatoes and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar.
3. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until just done, about 12 minutes. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta-cooking water. Drain the pasta and toss with the vegetables, the 1/2 cup basil, and, if the pasta seems too dry, some of the reserved pasta-cooking water. Serve topped with the 2 tablespoons basil.