Ratatouille and Quinoa Recipe

Colorful and healthy, ratatouille and quinoa are a delicious twist on the classic combo of eggplant, zucchini, tomato and bell peppers. This dish delivers vegetables and a complete protein in one meal!

INGREDIENTS:

1 large yellow onion - quartered and thinly sliced

5 to 6 ripe plum tomatoes - cored and sliced

2 zucchinis - stem and ends removed, cut on an angle into ½" slices

2 medium eggplants - peel left on, stem and ends removed, cut on angle into ½" slices

1 red pepper - cored and seeded, cut lengthwise into strips 2" wide and ½" thick

1 green pepper - cored and seeded, cut lengthwise into strips 2" wide and ½" thick

2 to 3 cloves garlic - thinly sliced (more if desired)

At least ½ cup olive oil

1-2 tbl dried Herbes de Provence or to taste

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste (freshly ground, if possible)

1/3 cup red wine (optional)

Sprinkling of cayenne pepper (optional)

¼ cup pine nuts - lightly toasted

Fresh minced parsley (optional)

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
2. In 9"x13" oven-safe dish, layer vegetables beginning with eggplant. Add onion, zucchini, garlic, peppers, and tomatoes. Drizzle olive oil, sprinkle wine (if used) and scatter Herbes de Provence evenly over the vegetables as you layer them. Salt and pepper layers to taste. Add cayenne if desired.
3. Bake for about 40 minutes, pressing down vegetables and stirring as they reach desired softness. Vegetables, especially zucchini, should be tender but not mushy and retain their individuality.
4. Meanwhile, bring 2 cups of water plus 1 cup of quinoa, with salt and pepper to taste, to a boil.
5. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer until quinoa is cooked, about 15 minutes.
6. Serve quinoa topped with ratatouille. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and minced parsley (if used).

Note: The ratatouille can be prepared a day ahead which gives flavors a chance to blend. Reheat slowly in 325ºF oven to desired warmth and serve over quinoa.

Serves 4

Variation on a recipe from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)