Inspired by the flavors of the classic french dish, we turned ratatouille into a pretty and portable meal that is perfect for the summer grilling season. Ratatouille is typically a mix of seasonal vegetables baked in a dish with tomatoes, garlic, and spicesand a great way to use up a gardens worth of vegetables. When summer vegetables are at their peak and its too hot to turn on the oven, make these colorful kebabs of squash, bell peppers, eggplant, and onion out at the grill. Our summer sauce, a bright green, herbaceous vinaigrette made with olive oil, mint, basil, and parsley (which are also abundant in the summertime), adds vibrant flavor and color to the skewers. The only trick to making perfect kebabs or skewers is to cut all of the ingredients into uniformly sized pieces. If some pieces are bigger or smaller than others, they will not cook evenly. When cutting the vegetables, make sure that the pieces are a similar size and shape1 to 2 inches. Thread the squash, bell peppers, eggplant, and onion alternately onto wooden skewers. Also be sure to coat the skewered vegetables evenly with oil so they wont stick to the grill. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper and brush with summer sauce until evenly coated. Grilled ratatouille skewers make a fun, one-hand appetizer at summer parties. Or serve them with a hearty main like grilled steak, salmon, or chicken. You friends and family will love the flavor and you can enjoy the ease of cooking on the grill.
