Chicken & Ratatouille Sandwiches

A delicious sandwich to take on the road

By Khalil Hymore

Scott and I always pack some sandwiches before we hit the open road. Since we will be traveling around France this summer, I figured Ratatouille would be in order. Normally Ratatouille takes hours to simmer and cook, but my super fast version only takes about 15 minutes to prepare. It's delicious tossed with pasta or as a side dish for poached eggs. You could eve simply spread it on toast. I like in this sandwich with moist warm chicken, creamy Gruyère, and nutty multi-grain bread.

Makes 2 servings

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
• kosher or sea salt
• ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small eggplant, chopped into small cubes
• 1 small zucchini, chopped into small cubes
• 1 small yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 tablespoons chopped basil
• 2 slices Gruyère cheese
• 4 slices multi-grain bread, toasted
• Dijon mustard

Season the pounded chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat a 1 tablespoons olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Lay the chicken breasts into the frying pan and cook until 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm; set aside.

To make the Ratatouille, wipe out the frying pan, and heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, eggplant, and zucchini and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 more minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and their juices, and the basil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for until the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

To assemble, spread a little bit of mustard onto one of the toast slices. Layer with one of the chicken breasts and top with a slice of cheese followed by a dollop of warm Ratatouille. Top with another slice of toast and repeat with the other sandwich.