Children's Ratatouille

Ingredients for 3 servings:

• ½ eggplant(s), finely diced
• 1 zucchini, finely diced
• ½ bell pepper(s), finely diced
• 2 tbsp, heaped tomato paste
• ½ onion(s)
• Garlic, a tiny piece
• 500 ml vegetable broth, a little more may be needed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 150 g couscous
• 1 tsp Italian herbs, dried, alternatively just parsley
• salt and pepper

Instructions

Working time approx. 20 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 30 minutes; Total time approx. 50 minutes

vegetarian or with meat, delicious and healthy, enough for 4 – 5 hungry toddlers from 1 year, day-child tested

Heat the oil, sauté the diced onion and garlic, add the finely diced vegetables, and sauté everything while stirring. Place the tomato paste in the center of the pot or pan and fry. Pour in the broth, season with the herbs (add fresh parsley at the end), and simmer the vegetables until tender, as is appropriate for children. Test the bite when the vegetables are almost tender, then add the couscous and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. You can vary the dish by frying it with minced meat at the beginning and then simmering it during the cooking process. It’s also delicious with finely chopped boiled sausages. It’s also a vegetarian option that’s a hit with little ones; depending on their age, you can experiment with whether they like it with feta cheese crumbles. It’s important that the eggplant cubes, in particular, become nice and soft and that the whole thing is seasoned well. The cooking time varies, around 30 minutes. You can add a little more vegetable broth to make it more moist. I’ve tried this with my day-care children and they’ve found it to be a hit.