Linguine with Ratatouille Sauce

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup thin- basil leaves 
• 1.7 cups canned tomatoes thick canned crushed (one 15-ounce can)
• 0.5 pound eggplant cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon fresh-ground pepper black
• 0.8 pound pasta 
• 3 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1  onion cut into thin slices
• 1  bell pepper green red cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1.3 teaspoons salt 
• 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar 
• 0.5 pound zucchini cut into 1/2-inch dice

Equipment

• frying pan
• pot

Directions

1. In a large frying pan, heat the oil over moderate heat.
2. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the eggplant, zucchini, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Reduce the heat to moderately low and cook, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add the tomatoes and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Serve topped with the 2 tablespoons basil.
8. Wine Recommendation: The combined acidity of tomatoes and vinegar calls for a crisp, high-acid wine--one with enough earthiness to complement the vegetables. An unoaked chardonnay from northeastern Italy fills the bill.