Baked Ratatouille (Fırında Ratatouille)

2 yellow squashes, cut in thin rounds
3 zucchinis, cut in thin rounds
4-5 small tomatoes, cut in thin rounds
1 big or two medium tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp fresh basil
2 tbsp dill
3 tbsp parsley
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
salt

 -Put olive oil, vinegar, 2 medium tomatoes, tomato paste, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp fresh basil, dill, oregano, black pepper, pepper flakes, and salt in a food processor and blend. You'll have nice smelling tomato + herby sauce.
-Wet the bottom of an oven dish with this sauce.
-Place thin rounds of zucchini, yellow squash, and tomato one after the other in an order you like.
-Pour the rest of the tomato sauce on top. (Don't add extra water; the vegetables will release more than necessary) Scatter finely chopped parsley.
-Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375 for approximately an hour.
Serve as a side dish with meat or serve as a main dish with any kind of rice.




Zucchini not only offers delightful taste and texture to many dishes, but also carries with it many health benefits. Here are eight reasons why you and should include it in your diet:

Diet

One cup of zucchini has 36 calories and 10% of the RDA of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar and curbs overeating.

Lower Cholesterol

The dietary fiber in zucchini helps lower cholesterol by attaching itself to bile acids that the liver makes from cholesterol for digesting fat. Because fiber binds so well with bile acid, thus crowding its ability to immediately digest fat, the liver is charged with producing more bile acid.

The liver then draws upon even more cholesterol to produce bile acid, consequently lowering the overall cholesterol level in the body. Furthermore, the high levels of vitamin C and vitamin A prevent cholesterol from oxidizing in the body's blood vessels, thus hampering the onset of atherosclerosis.

Cancer Prevention
Because dietary fiber promotes healthy and regular bowel movements, the high amounts of fiber in zucchini also help prevent carcinogenic toxins from settling in the colon. Moreover, the vitamins C and A, as well as folate, found in zucchini act as powerful antioxidants that fight oxidative stress that can lead to many different types of cancer.

Prostate Health
Studies show that the phytonutrients in zucchini aid in reducing the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BOH), a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges and leads to complications with urination and sexual functions in men.

Anti-Inflammatory Vitamins C and A not only serve the body as powerful antioxidants, but also as effective anti-inflammatory agents. Along with the copper found in zucchini, these vitamins deter the development of many hyper-inflammatory disorders, including asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention

A one cup serving of zucchini contains over 10% of the RDA of magnesium, a mineral proven to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Zucchini also provides folate, a vitamin needed to break down the dangerous amino acid homocysteine, which - if levels in the body shoot up - can contribute to heart attack and stroke.

Lower Blood Pressure

Along with magnesium, the potassium found in zucchini helps lower blood pressure.If unchecked, hyper tension, or high blood pressure, can lead to arteriosclerosis (blood vessel damage), heart attack, stoke, and many other serious medical conditions. Both the potassium and magnesium in zucchini, however, can help alleviate the stress on the body's circulatory system.

High in Manganese

A trace mineral and essential nutrient, manganese provides many health benefits and contributes to a slew of normal physiological functions. One cup of zucchini contains 19% of the RDA of manganese, which helps the body metabolize protein and carbohydrates, participates in the production of sex hormones, and catalyzes the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.

The manganese in zucchini also increases the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the enzyme responsible for protecting mitochondria against oxidative stress. Finally, manganese is essential for the production of proline, and amino acid that allows collagen to form, thus allowing for healthy skin and proper wound-healing