This is probably my favorite vegetable dish ever! My husband’s Grandmother used to make huge batches of ‘Pisto’ during the summer when the vegetables were abundant and at their very best. Known affectionately as ‘La Yaya’, she would store the stew of ‘Pisto’ in massive glass jars and keep them cool in her pantry to last all through summer and into autumn. I still remember the first time I tried this dish in her kitchen in her home town of Nava Del Rey, Valladolid. I could not believe there was no added sugar in the stew! Here the vegetables are cooked down slowly until succulent to release their natural sugars. This creates a sweet and rich stew bursting with bright colors and the aromas of summer. We eat this at home often for supper with a fried egg on top but it does make great side dish too. As always a hunk of bread is a necessity.

Stewed Summer Vegetables

Stewed Summer Vegetables

  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Persons: 4
  • Difficulty: Easy

  • Ingredients
  • 1 large onion peeled and diced
  • 2 zuchini washed and diced
  • 1 green pepper washed and diced
  • 1 red diced washed and diced
  • 4 cloves of garlic peeled and sliced
  • 5 good quality, ripe tomatoes washed and diced
  • 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tpsp of salt
  1. Instructions
  2. Wash and diced all the vegetables.
  3. Heat oil in a large pan to medium. Add onions and cook for 10 minutes. Add a pinch of salt.
  4. Add peppers and pinch of salt and cook for 10 minutes. 
  5. Add zuchini and pinch of salt and cook for 10 minutes.
  6. Add garlic and cook for 5 minutes.
  7. Add the tomatoes and pinch of salt. Lower heat and put lid on pan. Simmer gently for 30 minutes.
  8. Leave to sit for 10 minutes before serving.
  9. Delish served with a fried egg on top.

Top Tips

  • Like all stews, ‘Pisto’ tastes even better made ahead of time. Make it a day (or two) in advance and then sit down to an even tastier meal the next day.
  • ‘Pisto’ makes a great side dish to fish (I have served this before underneath crispy skin grilled salmon). It also tastes divine with roast pork. roast chicken and roast lamb. 
  • My favorite way to eat this stew is with a fried egg on top and lots of crusty bread to mop up that sweet, rich sauce.

Stewed Summer Vegetables – Pisto

Sweet, bright and so rich in flavor ‘Pisto’ Stewed Summer Vegetables will become one of your favorite vegetarian dishes that make a perfect al fresco lunch or light supper.