Hearty Sausage Rice Stew

Makes 6 servings
== Ingredients ==
* 1½ pounds hot or sweet Italian sausage
* ½ cup coarsely chopped onion
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 cup chicken broth
* 1 small eggplant, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
* 2 medium yellow squash, sliced
* 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
* 1 medium green pepper, coarsely chopped
* 1 teaspoon salt
* ½ teaspoon thyme leaves, crushed
* ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 2 tablespoons water
* 3 cups hot cooked rice
== Directions ==
# Bring 6 cups water to a boil in 4-quart Dutch oven.
# Add sausage; simmer 10 minutes.
# Remove meat; discard water.
# Cut meat in ½-inch pieces; brown in Dutch oven.
# Remove meat; keep warm.
# Pour off fat; return 2 tablespoons.
# Add onion and garlic; cook until tender crisp.
# Stir in broth, eggplant, squash, tomatoes, green pepper, salt, thyme and black pepper.
# Bring to a boil.
# Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
# Combine cornstarch with water; stir into vegetables along with sausage.
# Cook, stirring, until sauce is clear and thickened.
# Serve over beds of fluffy rice.
Category:American Meat Dishes
Category:Chicken stock and broth Recipes
Category:Eggplant Recipes
Category:Garlic Recipes
Category:Green bell pepper Recipes
Category:Onion Recipes
Category:Pork sausage Recipes
Category:Rice Recipes
Category:Squash Recipes
Category:Stew Recipes