Has your garden (or maybe your neighbor!) gifted you with an overabundance of zucchini? Lucky you! Use them to make a Tomato Zucchini Tian. Its layers of fresh tomatoes and zucchini over an eggplant and onion base are enhanced with Herbes de Provence and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
It's that time of year, folks. Yes, 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!
Still, all that zucchini is perfect to have on hand for making zucchini fries, pan-fried zucchini, and zucchini chips. It's also great for making a beautiful Tomato Zucchini Tian!
If you think the ingredients for this tian (pronounced "tie-ann") sound like the classic dish of ratatouille, you'd be right. They're almost identical, it's just the cooking method that's different.
Where tian is sliced vegetables beautifully layered in a dish and baked in the oven, ratatouille is vegetables cut into cubes and cooked as a stew.
If you've ever seen the movie Ratatouille, guess what. The dish Remy and his friends made? That was actually tian, not ratatouille!
Ingredient Notes
- Eggplant -- look for a medium-sized eggplant that feels heavy for its size with smooth unblemished skin. You could also use Japanese eggplant if you like.
- Olive oil -- I recommend using extra virgin olive oil for this recipe.
- Herbes de Provence -- this is my preference, but you could substitute a mixed Italian seasoning instead.
- Parmesan cheese -- use the best quality Parmesan available to you.
You'll find detailed measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Tomato Zucchini Tian
I always like to show you the photos and step-by-step instructions for my recipes to help you picture how to make them in your own kitchen. If you just want to print out a copy, you can skip to the bottom of the post where you'll find the recipe card.
Prep the Eggplant
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.
TIP: Don't skip the salting and draining process! It pulls out the bitter taste of the eggplant along with some of the moisture.
Saute the Onions and Garlic
Next, saute the onions and garlic in olive oil on medium heat until they're soft and slightly browned. It takes about 10 minutes.
Transfer the sauteed onions and garlic over to a baking dish. Then add a little more oil to the same skillet and brown the eggplant until slightly softened and just barely browned.
TIP: Stir the eggplant constantly while cooking to prevent it from sticking.
Season with salt and pepper and add it to the onions and garlic in the bottom of the baking dish.
At this point, start preheating the oven.
Layer the Tomatoes and Zucchini
Arrange the 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.
TIP: If you don't have herbes de Provence available, substitute mixed Italian seasoning.
Bake the Tian
Place the baking dish 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 the Parmesan cheese.
Make it a Meal
Your tian will be the perfect side dish for roasted chicken, simple grilled fish, or pork chops. It also makes a great main dish for your vegetarian friends. Be sure to add a loaf of French or Italian bread to soak up all the delicious juices.
Variations and Substitutions
- You can substitute other cheeses for the Parmesan. Use a grated Italian blend, mozzarella, or Swiss. If using a softer, grated cheese, cook the tian for 30 minutes then remove it from the oven. Add the cheese over the top and continue cooking for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Yellow squash is delicious in place of or in addition to the zucchini. Use half and half of each.
- Substitute dried Italian seasoning for the herbes de Provence.
- Many cooks vary the amount of oil used in tian. I've given you a more or less middle of the road measurement. A bit less oil will just keep the vegetables moist; extra oil will result in enough liquid to use to dip bread.
FAQs
A tian is a traditional earthenware cooking pot used in the Provence region of France. Thus, the recipe is actually named for the vessel it's cooked in.
I used a 9x11 baking dish, but tian can be cooked in any ovenproof dish that holds a similar amount. Many cooks use a 9-inch ceramic pie dish.
You can make this recipe ahead up to the point of baking it in the oven. Cover it well and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two days. Remove it and let it come up to room temperature before cooking.
One of the best uses of leftover tian is to toss it with hot pasta! Sprinkle on some more cheese and serve with bread. It's delicious!
Leftovers can be held for up to three days in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended.
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- Zucchini Chips
- Pan Fried Zucchini with Lemon and Parmesan
- Baked Zucchini with Bacon
- Stuffed 8-Ball Zucchini
- Stuffed Zucchini
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Tomato Zucchini Tian
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
- 6 ripe tomatoes sliced
- 1 tablespoon herbes de Provence (or mixed Italian seasoning)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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.
Notes
- Many cooks vary the amount of oil used in tian. I've given you a middle of the road measurement. A bit less oil will just keep the vegetables moist; extra oil will result in enough liquid for dipping bread.
- Substitute dried Italian seasoning for the herbes de Provence.
- Instead of Parmesan, use a grated Italian blend, mozzarella, or Swiss. If using a softer, grated cheese, cook the tian for 30 minutes then remove it from the oven. Add the cheese over the top and continue cooking for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Yellow squash is delicious in place of or in addition to the zucchini. Use half and half of each.
- For baking the tian, use a small 9x11 baking dish or a 9-inch ceramic pie dish.
- To make ahead, prepare the recipe to the point of baking it in the oven. Cover it well and keep it in the refrigerator for up to two days. Remove it and let it come up to room temperature before cooking.
- Leftovers can be held for up to three days in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your health care provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
Paula Brown says
Excellent recipe! The only thing I did was add some yellow squash.
I used all fresh vegetables from my garden and I will definitely make this again and again!
Lana Stuart says
Glad to know you enjoyed the recipe! The yellow squash would be great in this.
Jules says
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.
Sues says
This is beautiful and so seasonally fresh :)
Georgia Pellegrini says
This looks so healthy! So in season right now too.