World Wednesday: Garlic Basil Ratatouille

Serve this delicious vegetable stew over cooked couscous or nutty brown rice sprinkled with shredded or flaked Manchego cheese, and a side of garlic green beans. Use fire-roasted instead of plain diced
tomatoes for a smoky, outdoor flavor. Substitute raw sunflower seeds for the pine nuts for an even lower cost-per-serving, and use whatever summer squash is most readily available.

Serves 6. Prep time: 30 minutes.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 red or green bell pepper,
seeded and diced
3 tablespoons minced garlic
1 small zucchini, diced
1 small yellow squash, diced
1 small eggplant, stem removed,
cut into ½-inch cubes
1 14.5-ounce can Woodstock
diced tomatoes with juice
1
⁄3 cup minced fresh basil
2 tablespoons pine nuts
Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation
In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, bell peppers and garlic for a few minutes. Add the zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant and diced tomatoes (with juice) and bring to
a simmer. Cover the pot and simmer on low for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. When the eggplant and squash are tender, stir in the basil and pine nuts, and taste for salt and black pepper. Remove
from heat and serve warm.