Cheater Ratatouille with Rice

Tonight I wanted to make something reasonably quick and healthy.

I enjoy Ratatouille very much and didn't have the time or all of the ingredients, so this is an approximation that came out VERY well.

Cheater Ratatouille and Brown Basmati Rice

1 cup brown Basmati rice (we get ours at Trader Joes)
2 cups water

1 tbs olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg fresh button mushrooms, sliced
2 tbs balsamic vinegar
2 medium zucchini, sliced
4 small yellow squash, sliced
12 oz (half a jar) of Newman's Own "Sockarooni" style marinara sauce
1 tsp kosher salt or smoked sea salt, freshly ground
1 tsp paprika
1 tbs dried basil (I would have used fresh if I had it)
1/2 tbs dried oregano (same with the fresh)
a few twists of fresh black pepper


In a small saucepan, bring the 2 cups of water to a boil. Add rice, cover and simmer on low for about 20-25 minutes. Rice should be fluffy when fully cooked.

Meanwhile, in a large, deep frying/sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium/low heat. Add garlic and saute for a minute or two. Add mushrooms and balsamic vinegar. Once mushrooms are mostly cooked, add zucchini and squash, salt, pepper and spices. Saute until veggies are starting to be pretty limp. Add marinara sauce, stir and heat through.

Serve veggies/sauce over rice.

This made enough sauce/veggies for four people and enough rice for probably three.