Sausage Ratatouille
After posting about desserts, it’s probably time to get back into the groove of things and find a warm and toasty meal for a chilly autumn day.
Sausage Ratatouille, made popular by Pixar’s movie, is a classic French dish with a healthy blend of fresh vegetables.
It can be served as the main dish or, if you’d like, as an appetizer with bread. This hearty recipe is sure to bring a smile to the dinner table, and it’s sure to become a family favorite.
Prep Time: 10-15 Min.
Cook Time: 40 Min.
Total Time: Less than an Hour
Ingredients
3-4 Links (about ¾ pound) Italian Sausage
4 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 medium-sized eggplant, peeled and cut into ¾ inch dice
2 small zucchini, halved and sliced
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, halved, seeded, and sliced
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups canned, diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon tomato paste
Salt and Pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Directions
1. Heat medium-sized pot of water to a boil.
2. Puncture sausage links in several places, and then cook them at a low boil. Sausage should no longer be pink in the middle. Transfer the links to a plate to cool. Slice into ¼ inch-thick rounds. *About 14 minutes*
3. Next, add 3 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven. Bring to Medium heat then add eggplant and zucchini. Stirring frequently, sauté vegetables until lightly browned – do not overcook them because they will turn soft. Set vegetables aside on a plate *About 7 Minutes*
4. Warm the remaining olive oil in the same skillet, and then add onions and peppers. Stirring often, sauté vegetables. *About 3 minutes*
5. Add garlic and sliced sausage to the same skillet. Stirring often, sauté for an additional 3 minutes.
6. Next, add tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini from the plate, and then partially cover skillet. Let the ratatouille gently simmer for 5 minutes, and then add tomato paste, salt, and pepper to taste. Continue to simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and half the basil.
7. Sprinkle remaining basil.
8. Serve hot
This recipe should serve 6 people.