Quick Meal: Chicken Sausage with Eggplant & Tomatoes

I like to keep certain staples on hand for emergency meals or quick meals.  A few go-to staples on hand make my life much easier after a busy day working or running around.  One of the items I rely on are nitrate free, natural chicken sausage; another new staple is chia pasta.  With the chicken sausage I can make a few different meals and they cook quickly.  The chia pasta has protein, fiber, iron and cooks in 3 minutes, definitely something to keep on hand.  I had some eggplant, tomatoes and onions in the fridge so I decided to make a quick meal out them, add the sausage and throw it over the chia pasta.


Ingredients
2 Italian style nitrate free chicken sausage, sliced
1 large tomato, diced
1 small eggplant, peeled and diced (you can leave the peel on, I don't like it)
1/2 large sweet onion, sliced
a handful of sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 TBS olive oil
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped or dried basil to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Chia pasta - cook according to package directions

Boil water for pasta.

Heat olive oil over medium heat, add onions and cook until softened, about 3 - 4 minutes.  Add garlic in, saute 2 minutes.

Add eggplant, saute for 3 - 4 minutes, then add in both tomatoes and simmer for another 5 minutes.  Add in sausage and cook for another 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook pasta.  Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of cooking liquid.  If sausage, eggplant and tomato mixture seems dry add in 1/4 cup of reserved liquid and top pasta with the mixture.  Top with basil, fresh ground pepper and salt.

That's it, dinner in under 30 minutes with chopping.

What is your favorite emergency or quick meal?

Not sure what you should be eating?  Do you need help in planning meals for yourself?  If so, send me an email, janinemchale@empoweredplate.com, and together we can come up with a plan that works best for you.