Eggplant Ragu

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the eggplant, onions, bell peppers, celery, and salt, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Add the garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, and water. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, for 30 minutes. Add black pepper to taste.
• Cool the sauce in the refrigerator, then freeze in a sealed freezer bag. The sauce will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• To serve, defrost the night before in the fridge. Then simply pour the sauce from the bag into a saucepan and warm over medium heat until it is hot throughout. Enjoy it on your choice of base.

Serving Ideas:

• With pasta: (2 cups sauce per pound of pasta) Spoon sauce over fettuccine. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
• With baked potato: (1 cup sauce per potato) My Family’s Favorite: Spoon sauce over potato. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
• With chicken: (1 cup sauce per pound of chicken) Spoon sauce over sliced chicken. Serve with white rice.
• On sandwich: (half cup sauce per sandwich) Spread sauce evenly over horizontally sliced baguette. Top with sliced mozzarella cheese.
• With soup: (4 cups sauce and 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth per 4-serving pot) Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese.