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Spring Veggie Ragu Recipe ~ Even the Kids Will Love It

Spring Veggie Ragu Main

Straight from the Farmers Market ~ Spring Veggie Ragu

If I’m not growing it, I love to buy my fruits and vegetables from local farmers markets.  This past Saturday was no exception to that rule.  Walking through the farmers market, I found some amazing vegetables that begged to come home with me and be dinner.  I gleefully obliged and picked up some wonderful things to make a Spring Veggie Ragu to top some Buitoni Spicy Beef & Sausage Ravioli.  One of my favorite vendors had fresh baby garlic shoots.  I had never seen them before, so I inquired about how to use them.  The farmer told me that they were volunteers, coming up from his harvested garlic crop.  You can use them just as you would Spring or green onions.  You can even use the green leaves, all the way to the tips!  My family loves garlic, so they were definitely a must-have for dinner.  Thin Chinese eggplants were a must have as well, especially at 4 for $1!  They are a versatile vegetable that can easily be added to many different veggie dishes, such as a Spring Veggie Ragu.

Spring Veggie Ragu Over Pasta Makes a Great Meal

Spring Veggie Ragu is a great quick meal on any night of the week.  It satisfies your hunger pangs, as well as adds a good portion of veggies to your day.  Pairing Spring Veggie Ragu with your favorite pasta rounds out the dish and gives you a great base to carry the sauce to your tastebuds.  I paired mine with a spicy beef and sausage ravioli from Buitoni.  It gave me the perfect spice and bite to go with the bright flavors of the Spring Veggie Ragu.

Spring Veggie Ragu Ingredients

2 T olive oil

2 large red ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 Chinese (or baby) eggplant, diced

4 oz Baby Bella mushrooms, cleaned and diced

6 stalks baby garlic (or 3 garlic cloves), sliced

1/4 C half n half

Pasta, cooked and hot

2 sprigs basil

Asiago cheese, shredded (for garnish)

 

Heat a saute pan over medium high heat.  When warmed, add the olive oil, eggplant, and mushrooms.  Saute until the veggies start to caramelize on the edges.

Add the tomatoes and baby garlic to the pan.  Stir and saute until the garlic starts to wilt.

Add the half n half, stirring for a moment to coat the veggies.  Let simmer 1-2 minutes.

Rinse the basil leaves and stack, one over the other.  Roll up across the short side if the leaves, making a roll.  Slice into thin strips and set aside.

Spoon Spring Veggie Ragu over hot pasta.  Garnish with basil and Asiago cheese.

 

Spring Veggie Ragu is So Versatile!

Whatever  spring or summer veggies are in season, you can use them in Spring Veggie Ragu.  You can even toss in the veggies that you’ve left for maybe a day too long, that are slightly wrinkled, but not enough to call them “bad”, just not “pretty” anymore.  Zucchini, summer squash, asparagus, and even scallions can be used in Spring Veggie Ragu.  Use your imagination and bring a variety of veggies to the table in Spring Veggie Ragu!

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16 COMMENTS

  • Maryann D.

    I love vegetable and pasta dishes. I try to change my recipes around so it is not boring. I will try this one, it looks great!

  • Rivernik

    Will really try this one, looks like its not too hard.

    • Brandy
      AUTHOR

      I can’t wait to hear how your family likes it. Have a splendid day!

  • Heather M

    Yummy and by shopping in season you can get it pretty inexpensively while feeding your family a healthy awesome dinner. Thank you for linking up with us for Fabulously Frugal Thursday.

  • Miz Helen

    Hope you are having a great week and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

  • YUM! I love veggies, and I am always looking for new recipes with veggies.

  • That looks delicious! I put it on my recipe board!

  • mel

    This looks absolutely delicious!!! YUM!

  • Jenna Wood

    I like that slightly wilting veggies can camouflaged in this., I’m going to give it a try!

  • Ellen Christian

    Yum! Sounds like an amazing dinner to me!

  • Amber Edwards

    I never heard of a ragu like this before. But it looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it!

  • JADE OF Diva Fabulosa

    That looks deliciouso!!! Now I am hungry!

  • Dede

    That looks so good. Do you soak your eggplant in saltwater before cooking?

  • Sandy a la Mode

    mmm getting me sooo hungry right now!!

  • SHELLEY R ZUREK

    I used to live in Switzerland. This was a common dish there and so delicious.

  • Jenn @comebackmomma

    Sounds delicious. I am pinning in my recipe board.