Summer Veggies, Saffron, Sausage & Brown Rice Spaghetti

This ﬂavorful pasta meal makes great use of the summer garden bounty.

Pinch of saﬀron threads

Small red onion, ﬁnely chopped

1 eggplant, peeled and diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

½ pound ground sausage

1 medium zucchini, diced

1 medium yellow squash, diced

3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

12-16 oz brown rice spaghetti, cooked and drained

Optional: red pepper ﬂakes and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Steep saﬀron threads in 4 tbsp. boiling water for 20 minutes. Set aside.
Finely chop red onion and begin to sauté in a large stainless steel skillet on low with 2 tbsp. olive oil.
Add eggplant and carrots to onion. Sauté for 5 minutes on medium low heat with 1 tbsp. of saﬀron water until eggplant are soft.
Crumble sausage and cook on medium with eggplant for 5-7 minutes. Drain oﬀ extra fat with a spoon and discard. Add the rest of the saﬀron broth.
Chop zucchini and squash in small dices and add to the skillet, turning up heat and quickly sautéing for 2-3 minutes, depending on how ﬁrm you like them. Add 1-2 tbsp. of pasta cooking water, if needed. Turn oﬀ heat and let cool while pasta is cooking. Before draining the pasta, top sauce with a drizzle of fresh extra virgin olive oil.
Mix pasta with vegetable sauce. Let stand a few minutes before serving.
If desired, sprinkle with red pepper ﬂakes and cheese, if you like.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Heidi Gordon / Jovial Foods.

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