Ratatouille with Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage and Creamy Polenta
Hi, hi, hi. It’s Wednesday!
Ready for the ultimate end of summer meal?
Ah, I hope so!
This is loaded with fresh garden veggies or in my case, fresh from the store garden veggies since the only thing I currently have growing right now is a bush of basil and a bush of mint.
Thankfully, they are doing well…
Which is surprising since I have them inside (of course) in the smallest pot, with barely any soil. I know, know, recipe for disaster!
But hey it’s working, so why fix what’s not broken?
Ok wait.
I have to tell you guys, this week is a pretty big week around here.
See, little Asher turns five on Friday.
Yes, five!! I still cannot believe it.
Honestly, birthdays around here have never been that big of deal (well they used to be, back when we lived with gazillions of family in Ohio, but in Colorado – not so much), but for some reason Asher’s birthdays are a big deal. I mean, we started celebrating last Friday and I have feeling the, “ok, fine only because it is your birthday” line will continue on through the long weekend.
Oh and there are lots of treats being made. Treats for school, treats for everyday and um, a big chocolate on the inside pink on the outside cake. It’s gonna be good.
Obviously, these veggies in this meal are kind of needed right now.
All the veggies equal out all the sugar, right?
Yeah, right!
This ratatouille is kind of the perfect transition meal from summer to fall. Early September is such a weird food time. Sometimes it is really hot and all you want is summer food, but then it cools off at night and that comfort food craving hits.
This is the perfect fix.
It’s got all the fresh summer veggies, but that creamy, cheesy polenta makes it a total comfort food.
I love creamy, cheesy polenta!
Oh, and those colorful things too. The veggies? Yeah those. I love those too.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ratatouille with Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage and Creamy Polenta
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken sausage, ratatouille, spicy
This spicy Italian dish is loaded with fresh veggies
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground spicy italian chicken sausage
- 1/2 onion copped
- 1 clove garlic minced or grated
- 2 small zucchini chopped
- 2 small summer squash chopped
- 1 small eggplant chopped
- 2 red peppers chopped
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 ounce can diced tomatoes 28
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves chopped
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Creamy polenta
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- 2/3 cup polenta I used Bob's Red Mill
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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To make the polenta. Pour the chicken broth and milk into a medium size saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and slowly whisk in the polenta. Cook, stirring frequently, until the polenta is soft and thick, about 15 to 20 minutes. Keep warm and then just before serving, stir in the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. If the polenta seems a little thick you can add a tablespoon of butter or extra milk.
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To make the, ratatouille, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the sausage and break apart into small pieces. Brown the sausage all over, about 5 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set on a plate.
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Add another drizzle of olive oil to the skillet, add the onions and garlic to the pan. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted and lightly caramelized, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the eggplant and thyme to the pan and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is partially cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the red peppers, zucchini, and squash and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add the canned tomatoes balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve warm over the creamy, cheesy polenta.
Look at that color though, it’s totally cheesy healthy comfort food!
Wah! So pretty. Veggies. Polenta. Sausage. Be still my heart. This looks wonderful!
Thank you so much, Mary-Clay!
I must admit that I’ve never had polenta. You certainly make it look delicious though! I must give it a try.
Oh my gosh, you have to try it!! If you like anything creamy and smooth, then you will love polenta! It is awesome!
Holy yum!! This is going on my meal plan for next week! What an incredible bowl!
Thanks Steph!! Hope you love this!
I love me some polenta! This looks fabulous. Love all the veggies too 🙂
Thanks Laura! the polenta kind of rules!
How creamy and spicy and delicious!!! I want this!!!
Thank you so much, Robyn! I love all the spicy flavors!
Wow that looks amazing, fantastic recipe!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thanks so much, Eric!
Creamy polenta is one of my favorite things ever. Love this!
I love polenta so much and always have it on hand! It is so easy and quick and a great stand in when we get a little board with rice and quinoa!!
Thank you so much, Lori!
What a great way to enjoy summers best!
Thanks Kevin!
This dish looks fabulous! I love the summer-y colors. Perfect for the summer/fall transition. 🙂
And I can’t wait to see Asher’s birthday cake! I’m sure it will be phenom. 😀
Pinned!
Thank you so much, Abbie! It really is a perfect transition meal!
I LOVE ratatouille! AND creamy polenta! This will be a staple in my house this winter – soooo yummy and comforting!
Thanks so much, Julia!! Love your smoothie today!! I seriously making it tomorrow!
Love this polenta dish and its a beauty! I can’t wait to see what you make for Asher’s Birthday!
Than you so much, Meagan! Not sure if I am posting the cake or not. I have to see how it turns out!
I love polenta and there’s nothing better than topping it with garden veggies!
Thanks Laura!! I love the garden veggies!
Great looking dish – great looking photos! The polenta looks dreamy!
I am impressed you grew that basil plant in a small pot – I have killed just about every basil plant ever !
Hoping you post the “chocolate on the inside, pink on the outside” cake! Would love to drool over photos!
Happy Birthday to Asher!
Haha! Thank you so much, Shashi! Not sure what am ding about the cake! Well see how it turns out!
I’m so ready for this! You um, deliver?
Hehe! I wish, that would be kind of fun!
I want this right now! Love ratatouille!
Thanks Lauren!
I’m on a ratatouille kick at the moment, bring on the cheesy polenta! So good! x
Cheesy polenta rules!
I have got to try this! YUM
Thank you so much, Aimee!
That’s how you celebrate a birthday…week long!! Go Asher! When it comes to comfort food, this is as good as it gets.
Ha! She would love you!
Thanks Todd!
I am so ready for fall food and this looks like an excellent dish to start with!!
Thanks Julie!! Fall foods are so comforting and cozy! It’s awesome!
This just screams fall and comfort. Yum!
Thanks Des!
I’ve never made polenta before but I think that needs to change, stat!
Oh my gosh, seriously? Chung-Ah, you have too! You’ll love it!
Very often I cook different dishes with polenta and this recipe caught my attention. I think it is rather unusual and looks very appetizing! It is nutritious dish and rather easy to cook and I wonder what meat can substitute chicken?
Hi Maria! I am sure that any ground meat you like would work. We personally like the spiciness in the sausage, but ground chicken, beaf or turkey would work as well!
Thank you so much!
Made this for dinner last night after a very long and mentally exhausting day. This is pure comfort food. Loved everything about it. IT will definitely be in the rotation for the fall and winter months. Thanks Tieghan!
So happy you enjoyed this and after a long hard day too! Thanks so much for making it, Kathy!
A little late on this one, but I made this for dinner Tuesday night and it was delicious! Very excited to have the leftovers for lunch today. Thanks for sharing!
So happy you loved this!! Thanks Jodie!
We made this and it was so delicious! Followed the recipe exactly. There is just 2 of us and we’ve been eating for days, making the polenta fresh each night but the rest of it reheated beautifully! This one is definitely going in the recipe book.
Once again, you’ve created a recipe that is incredible. I used fresh tomatoes instead of canned and it turned out so yummy. My husband said, “The contrasting textures are really yummy.” Thanks Teagan from a fellow Coloradoan! My sisters and I are all fans of your recipe.
Thank you Jennifer! I am so glad you loved this recipe! xTieghan
Used my fresh garden veggies and herbs and was delicious! Especially the polenta! thank you!
Aw that is so awesome! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Teresa!! xTieghan
A few questions
1) when do I re- add the sausage back in?
2) Is that really just 1 oz of diced tomato for the whole recipe?
Thanks!
Love your work so much 🙂
Hey Chani,
You can add the sausage back with the canned tomatoes. You want to use 1 (28oz) can of diced tomatoes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan