It’s that time of year, folks. Yep, it’s zucchini season. Isn’t is amazing how one little seed so innocently and hopefully planted in the Spring grows into a monster plant covering at least twice as much area as you estimated? And producing more dang zucchini than you and your family can possibly eat? And you don’t dare leave one unpicked once you notice it. Oh, no. That unpicked zucchini out there? By the time you come back to check on it it’s the size of a baseball bat. I swear that stuff grows faster than kudzu. And that’s saying something, y’all!
Well, I’ve got a recipe for you today that just might make you happy to have that extra zucchini on hand. It’s a beautiful tian that uses some of the best of your summer veggie crop. A tian, according to Slashfood, is a “layered, baked vegetable dish that originated in Provence.” That’s just exactly what this is. Layers and layers of deliciousness.
You start by prepping an eggplant. Peel it and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle some salt over the cubes and put them in a colander. Leave them to drain for about 30 minutes. The salting and draining process pulls out the bitter taste of the eggplant along with some of the moisture.
Next you’ll saute the onions and garlic in some of the olive oil until they’re soft and slightly browned. It takes about 30 minutes. Transfer them over to a baking dish. Then add a little more oil to the same skillet and brown the eggplant. I stir it constantly to prevent it from sticking and it takes maybe 5 minutes to get it slightly softened and just barely browned. Season it with salt and pepper and add it to the onions and garlic in the baking dish.
Now, start preheating your oven while you arrange your sliced zucchini and tomatoes over the eggplant-onion mixture. Top everything with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper, herbes de provence and the rest of the olive oil. Pop it into the oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and the tomatoes are just barely beginning to brown on the edges.
Remove the dish from oven and let it cool for 5 or 10 minutes before serving. Top with Parmesan cheese if you like, but I think it’s really tasty as is!
Enjoy!
A tian of provencal flavors of tomato, zucchini, eggplant along with Herbes de Provence and topped with Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant, peeled
- Salt
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup olive oil
- Ground black pepper
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced on the diagonal
- 5-6 ripe tomatoes, sliced
- 1 tblsp. Herbes de Provence
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the eggplant into about 1-inch cubes.
- Sprinkle generously with salt and place in a colander.
- Let the eggplant drain for 30 minutes then remove it and pat dry.
- Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and cook the onions and garlic until slightly browned, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a medium baking dish.
- To the same skillet, add another 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the eggplant, stirring constantly, until tender and slightly browned. About 5 minutes.
- Season the eggplant with salt and pepper and stir into the onion mixture in the baking dish.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Arrange the sliced zucchini and tomatoes over the eggplant and onion mixture.
- Sprinkle with the Herbes de Provence, drizzle with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and the tomatoes are beginning to brown around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese if using.
Other tian recipes you might enjoy from around the Internet:
- Potato Tian with Caramelized Onions from For the Love of Cooking
- Christine Cooks’ Late Summer Vegetable Tian
- Vegetable Tian from We Heart Food
- Ina Garten’s Vegetable Tian
- Eggplant Tian from Epicurious
What I was cooking…
- One year ago: Layered Mediterranean Salad and Forgotten Cookies
- Two years ago: Turkey Burgers
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t wait to make this!
I think you’ll really enjoy it, Maria.
omg I love this one!
Such a beautiful summer dish.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
main dish here at Smith Bites – LOVE!
And it’s great with a nice cold, crisp glass of wine :-)
Don’t laugh at me….but I have never ever used herbs de provence…I just really didn’t know how to use it!! Now I know…I will have to try this, it looks like a delicious summer meal!
I wouldn’t ever laugh at you, Shelby! Actually, I think there are slightly different blends of Herbes de Provence depending on the brand. I order it from My Spice Sage and their blend contains savory, thyme, rosemary, lavender and fennel. It’s really great on fish or grilled chicken and wonderful with eggplant. I also use it in my Savory French Toast recipe.
With the zucchini starting to come in, this looks like a dish to try. Gorgeous photos!
Thanks, Anne-Marie!
This is such a pretty way to present all of that summer produce that is starting to explode in my garden. Lovely dish, Lana!
I’ve never added eggplant in my dish before! Love that! I’m going to try that the next time I make this dish :)
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Wow, just the photo alone is awesome. I’d love to try that.
Thank you, Dan!
oh yeah, this is some fine stuff I know… nothing better than garden fresh and you make the best of the summer taste… now see if you can’t whip up something to go with kudzu, you’d make a fortune…
This looks so healthy! So in season right now too.
This is beautiful and so seasonally fresh :)
Sounds like “Tian” is French for vegetable casserole, it also looks similar to another, now very popular, French dish, Ratatouille!!! Your pictures and recipe both look wonderful.
http://picturesofaprincess.blogspot.com/2011/07/confit-byaldi-aka-ratatouille.html
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