I’m sure everyone was inspired by Ratatouille to concoct (or at least research) their own version.  Mine is loosely based on the Moosewood Cookbook’s non-spicy Mediterranean version with the addition of multi-colored peppers (because they were on hand) and some spicy Italian Sausage because it was starting to look pretty sad and lonely in my freezer.

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Recipe is as follows:

Combine;

  • 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes and juice
  • 1 medium (7″) zucchini, cubed
  • 1 medium eggplant, cubed
  • 2 bell peppers (colored ones are good, in a medium dice)
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • 1 tsp. marjoram
  • 1/2 tsp. rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp. thyme

In a slow cooker.

Sautée in 1T oil (or cooking spray, I guess, but it’s not as tasty);

  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • & a grind or two of pepper

until the onions are soft but not translucent.  Add to the slow cooker.

Brown about 8oz sausage, drain, add to the slow cooker.

Add a little bit of water (about a can full).

Cook on low for about 6 hours or until the vegetables are soft and the eggplant tastes like tomato instead of eggplant.  Add 1/2 can ripe olives to the slow cooker — when they’re warm serve vegetables over pasta.

The secondary cookbook I was using suggested adding “quick cooking tapioca” before serving to make the sauce a little thicker.  I don’t care for the idea of adding tapioca (and I didn’t have any) so the sauce was quite thin.  I served the vegetables over spaghetti with goat cheese melted in so the thin sauce was incorporated quite nicely.

The recipe was rated as follows:

  • 3 (out of 4 possible) husband grunts
  • 4 (out of 4) Amanda stars
  • 3 (out of 4) nutrition stars.

If I’d had whole wheat pasta or had left the goat cheese out (or used parmesan instead) I would give it four nutrition stars; the sausage isn’t overwhelming and the vegetables go well together.  Lycopene from canned tomatoes is good for you and…well…the slow cooker ads karma points to the day? Moosewood recommended serving with polenta but I was in the mood for pasta yesterday.

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